yacht rental chicago lake michigan

Chicago's Premier Yacht Charter Service

Experience Lake Michigan with the ultimate comfort and style through our tailored charter services.

An Elevated Experience

our services

Charters & Rates

Whatever the occasion, do it in style.

Private Charters

• Chicago River
• Lake Michigan
• Corporate events
• and more…

Day Charters

• Milwaukee, WI
• New Buffalo, MI
• Michigan City, IN

Night Charters

• Firework nights
• Casino, Hammond, IN

Sea Ray SLX 400 40ft

Winner of the NMMA Innovation Award, the SLX 400, coined “The Entertainer”, combines peak performance, superior comfort, incredible versatility and style, and state-of-the-art technology

• Wet bar, 2 grills, refrigerator, wine cooler, microwave, 3 TVs
• Fresh water washdown, deck shower
• Platform (launch pad) that lowers into water
• Bathroom with toilet and fresh water sink
• Seating for 15 people
• Sleeps 4 overnight
• Stereo in cabin & cockpit, with bluetooth connectivity
• Satellite radio & weather
• Dual inboard-outboard MerCruiser engines
• and much more...

Streamlined process

How it Works

To confirm your booking, simply agree to the quote, sign the contract, and submit the corresponding deposit.

Get Notified

Stay informed about all the latest news, special deals, and promotions by subscribing to our newsletter.

highly-skilled professionals

City-Centered, Accessible Luxury

a curated experience

Our Concierge Service

we strive to exceed expectations

Our Happy Clients

What a perfect day out on Lake Michigan! We felt like kings and queens and the boat was as classy as the service. Eleven out of ten experience. 

You won’t find more genuine hosts who want nothing less than the best experience for their guests. Whether it’s a slow cruise down the river or an anchored stay in the Play Pen, you’re sure to be charmed by the magic of the city. They think of everything so you don’t have to, a stress free experience. 10/10 would recommend.

We may be the Second City but Chi City Charters is second to none! Best boat on the lake, period!

We had the best time cruising along the Chicago River on Lock Leader. Our captain and crew were utter professionals and taught us a lot about Lake Michigan and Chicago. Highly recommended to see the city from a different view.

If you have any inquiries, please refer to our list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) provided below. In case you cannot find the answer you seek, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

A bareboat charter, as defined by the United States Coast Guard (USCG), is an arrangement granting the Charterer (the individual renting the yacht) temporary ownership and use of a vessel for a specified duration. Under this agreement, the Charterer assumes responsibility for the vessel, their guests, hiring their own Crew, and providing their own food and beverages.

It is important to note that the Charterer may either operate the vessel themselves if they possess the required credentials or choose to hire their own Captain and Crew.

However, it is crucial to adhere to the maximum passenger limit of 12 individuals for a bareboat chartered vessel.

For bareboat charters, the maximum capacity is 12 passengers, excluding the Captain and Crew.

The hired Captain and Crew are not counted as passengers. So, to clarify, the Charterer can bring a maximum of 11 guests.

Please keep in mind that infants and children are included in the total capacity count. Your Captain will count as an additional person, and the Crew can range from 1 to 2 people, depending on your specific requirements.

Once your booking is confirmed, Chi City Charters will provide you with a selection of qualified and approved Captains who have extensive knowledge of the yacht.

Our Captains can offer valuable recommendations regarding the number of Crew members you may require, depending on your specific charter plan. They have a network of experienced Crew members who are familiar with the yacht, and they can enhance your charter experience by providing additional safety, assistance, and service throughout your journey.

Alternatively, Charterers are welcome to provide their own certified Captain. It’s important to note that Captains are independent contractors hired directly by the Charterer and are not affiliated with or employed by Chi City Charters.

The rate for Captains typically ranges from $80 to $250 per hour, depending on their skills, experience, and qualifications, and this does not include gratuity.

It is customary to show appreciation to your hired Captain and Crew by leaving a gratuity of 18-25% of the total charter price (excluding the Captain’s hourly rate). Payment and gratuity should be made directly to your hired Captain.

Captains usually accept cash or payment through peer-to-peer platforms such as ApplePay, Venmo, Zelle, and others.

At Chi City Charters, we accept all major credit cards, including ApplePay, Venmo, Zelle, direct deposit, and cash, providing you with flexible payment options.

However, please be aware that we are unable to accept payment on behalf of your hired Captain or Crew, as they are separate contractors hired directly by the Charterer.

We recommend discussing the preferred method of payment with your hired Captain to ensure a smooth transaction process that aligns with their payment preferences.

fun in the sun

Get ready for an unforgettable yacht experience on Lake Michigan! Use our booking app to find your desired date and time, and bring your perfect day in the sun to life.

• Diversey Harbor, 2601 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614
• 319-889-7170
• [email protected]

Send us a message

Please allow 1 business day for follow up.

Luxury Yacht Charters

Private yacht cruise in chicago for groups up to 13 passengers.

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Planning your Luxury Cruise:

Book this yacht.

You can book your Chicago yacht rental online here . Start by selecting your date. Select 'Trinity' to view rates and availability. Contact us with any questions.

Hire a Captain

Shortly after you book you will receive a captain contact list of qualified captains who are familiar with this yacht. We recommend budgeting $125/hr for the captain. See more info about hiring a captain for your yacht  here.

Prepare for your outing!

Refer to our FAQs here or reach out with any questions. We can provide recommendations for catering. Get ready to enjoy a premium yacht experience on Lake Michigan!

@chicagoyachting

"Booked super last minute and Chicago Yachting made everything super simple and stress free. The boat is perfect for groups, the coolers on board are huge and the bluetooth/speakers were perfect. I’d definitely book again and highly recommend!"

Eleanor Vanbruinessen

"If you’re looking for an amazing way to see Chicago, look no further! We rented a boat as part of a girls weekend in the Fall and it was easily the best part of our trip. The company was easy to contact ahead of time, the boat was beautiful and clean, and instructions for accessing were clear. Would definitely rent from them the next time I visit Chicago!"

James Kretz

This yacht experience was without a doubt the coolest thing I have ever done in my entire life. I felt like a celebrity touring around... This is a must if you are in Chicago.

Rent a luxury yacht for as low as $250 per hour

Make your special occasion unforgettable with a Lake Michigan yacht cruise.

Parties, family trips , dinner cruises , birthdays, water sports, weddings…

Make your booking now

Ask us in case of any doubt

ENJOY our Luxury Yacht in Chicago for up to 13 guests!

Our Yacht is perfect for any occasion and features: kitchen, living room, 2 bedrooms, full bathroom with shower, onboard refrigerator and cooler, state of the art sound system which is Bluetooth operated, two kayaks and a sup, huge floating pad (15ft by 6ft), big sundeck with comfortable tanning pillows.

booking process

Complete booking for one of our yachts through our website.

Captains List

After booking, we will send you our pre approved captains list. Hire a captain to operate the yacht for you.

Arriving and Check

We will send you arriving and check in directions to enjoy Chicago from the lake!

Live in luxury on Lake Michigan with our charter yachts

At our yacht charter company, we are dedicated to providing our clients with a luxurious Lake Michigan experience. We have a fleet of high-quality yachts and offer personalized services to ensure that your day on the lake is unforgettable.

With over a decade of experience in yacht chartering, we can ensure that your experience with us will be nothing short of exceptional.

Premium selection

Our two yachts are 100% of the highest quality and are in perfect condition for your enjoyment. With us you are guaranteed the best possible experience on Lake Michigan.

Safety is our main priority. All our yachts are equipped with the necessary safety equipment and our team is highly trained to ensure the safety of our clients.

Competitive prices

We offer competitive prices on our yacht charters without sacrificing quality. The opportunity to experience a luxury yacht starting at only $250 an hour.

Why should you choose us?

Why choose our yacht charter service?  There are many reasons why we are the best option for those looking to enjoy a high quality yachting trip.

We guarantee the best possible experience on the lake. Both of our yachts are of the highest quality and in perfect condition for your enjoyment. With us, you can be sure that you will have a premium selection of yachts that will exceed your expectations.

Our team of experts have years of yacht charter experience and know exactly what it takes to make your day on the lake an unforgettable experience.

Do you want to know our yachts?

What Our Clients Say

Important information

Please keep the following information in mind when making your reservation.

WHEN AND WHERE?

We charter 3 times per day leaving from Belmont Harbor: 10am - 2pm 2:45pm – 6:45pm 7:30pm – 11:30 pm

Start as low as $250 per hour on weekdays with a 4 hour minimum per session. All our Yachts are subject to a $750 Security Deposit which will be refunded following business day if no claims are made. Cancellation Policy: 15 Business days and more before the reservation date : Full refund.

Not included in the price, however we will provide you with the pre-approved Captain list to choose from and hire.

Not included in the price and it is $200 for 4-hour session. This fee is collected by the owner upon your booking via QuickPay/Zelle.

We will go boating rain or shine, the only way we will reschedule your reservation is when waves are above 5 feet; In this case you will have an opportunity to reschedule your reservation for another date (based on availability) at no charge.

US Coast Guard regulations

Please note, per US Coast Guard regulations, the Bareboat maximum capacity for rental is 13 passengers plus Captain and we will be able to accommodate only 13 people plus Captain. If you have more than 13 people in your group, we can add another yacht for you.

stay in touch

Do you want to rent one of our yachts? Do you have questions about our services? Contact us today! Fill in the contact form and one of our experts will contact you shortly. We can’t wait to help you plan your next Lake Michigan adventure!

Book today and explore new horizons

“Reserve your yacht today and make your sailing dreams come true! Don’t wait any longer to enjoy the beauty of this spectacular lake aboard one of our high-quality yachts!”

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Thanks for visiting our website. We are committed to providing an exceptional online experience. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact us.

773-805-9008

[email protected]

Belmont Harbor: 3600 N Recreation Dr, Chicago, IL 60613

© 2023, All Rights Reserved

Website Created by PSTW©

Interested in NIGHT FIREWORK CRUISE?

We have it covered, night cruises available wednesday’s and saturday’s.

    Wednesday and Saturday   Night Fireworks Cruise                                                                          SPECIAL                                                                          7:30pm-11:30pm – $1,000 plus Gas and Captain fee.

*Holidays and Special Weekends are excluded.

LUXURY YACHT CHARTERS

A unique chicagoland & lake michigan experience.

Call or Email For Rates & Availability

(312)288-6803

[email protected]

"VINTAGE" 

75' private yacht charter.

TO ENJOY THE SKYLINE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO FROM A VESSEL ON LAKE MICHIGAN IS BREATHTAKING; DAY OR EVENING

Established in 1986, Luxury Yacht Charters provides a top of the line experience with their family-owned personalization. With a number of yachts available for your pleasure, and more than 45 years experience in yachting, we will take you along the Chicago Skyline, or the Chicago River between high-rise buildings of the city—some of the most beautiful sites to see from Lake Michigan.

From simple and casual to elegant and sophisticated, our seventy-five foot (75’) yacht can accommodate whatever experience you desire. Enjoy a piece of Chicago’s paradise with us—we’ll take care of the rest.

Privately Owned 

Tailor-made excursions  , luxury yacht charters can take your chicagoland boating experience to the next level experience your tailor-made package today, lake michigan - chicago skyline.

Experience the one-of-a-kind Chicago Skyline from Lake Michigan, including the famous  Navy Pier  and popular museum campus of the  Adler Planetarium  and  Shedd Aquarium.

Chicago River

Take romance to a whole new level & experience the majesty of downtown's infamous architecture along the Chicago River. Plan dinner reservations at one of Chicago's top dining establishments on the riverside, or dine yacht-style on board.

FirstMerit Bank Pavilion - Northerly Island

Avoid the crowds and listen at your leisure! Luxury Yacht Charters offers private charters to Northery Island for a live listen to one of your favorite performers.

Rates & Details - p lease contact us for a formal quote on your custom package.

Booking your custom package can be overwhelming - we understand. Our Chicagoland-based staff can help prepare your package with you and your guests in mind. Please contact us to get more information about your custom yacht charter!

PLEASE VIEW OUR PHOTO GALLERY

TAILOR YOUR CHARTER EXPERIENCE WITH LUXURY YACHT CHARTERS TODAY! 

“the whole trip went, without a hitch , you totally hit it just right for us” , “our honeymoon was magical, thanks to luxury yacht charter’s exquisite planning.”, - sara d. -, “thanks luxury yacht charters, we loved every second & would go back there in a heartbeat.”, - laura g. -.

Join our mailing list for news and special discounts!

Thanks for subscribing! See you on the Lake!

Call Us : 224-806-8736

Chicago Motor Yacht​

Boat rentals chicago, luxury yachts, chicago boat rentals.

Our diverse fleet includes everything from elegant boats to luxurious motor yachts, ensuring there’s something for every taste and occasion.

SEA RAY SLX 31’

• 10 Passenger

From $250/h

Sea ray slx 35’.

• 12 Passenger

From $325/h

Formula 40pc.

Set sail on Lake Michigan and experience the thrill of sailing firsthand. Feel the wind in your hair as you navigate the waters aboard our sailboats!

Celebration

Elevate your special occasions with a touch of luxury by celebrating on our exquisite yachts. Whether it's a birthday bash, anniversary celebration, or corporate event.

It's our pleasure to offer our U.S. Coast Guard Certified Captain's. Our trained captain's will provide you with the best experience tailored to your needs.

Attractions

We offer a range of exciting attractions to enhance your experience. Including a breathtaking fireworks show at Navy Pier, boat anchor swimming and basking in the sun at the iconic Playpen area.

Our Services

Full range of our services.

Explore the wide range of attractions we offer! Browse through our offerings and prepare to embark on an unforgettable aquatic journey with us.

Why Choose Us

Freedom is just an anchor away.

Planning a special event or celebration? Our Chicago party yachts are ideal for birthdays, weddings, bachelorette and bachelor parties, corporate outings, and more.

Plus, we offer competitive Chicago party yacht prices to accommodate any budget.

Call Us Anytime

• 224-806-8736

Where Every Wave Beckons With Unforgettable Memories

Welcome to our Chicago Boat Rental, your premier source for private yacht charters and boat rentals in Chicago! Whether you’re seeking a relaxing day on Lake Michigan or an exciting adventure along the Chicago River, we have the perfect vessel for you.

Chicago Motor Yacht is a Chicago boat rental company that specializes in providing luxurious, yet affordable, bareboat yacht rentals on Lake Michigan and the Chicago River.

Our team offers more than 20 years of boating experience and 25 years of hospitality experience, providing the best boat rental experience, from the River to the Playpen. We are committed to guest education and safety in order to deliver our clients a full-service yacht charter that is both fun and safe.

With options for Chicago boat charter with captain services, you can sit back and enjoy the ride while our experienced captains navigate the waters for you.

Whether you’re interested in a private charter or joining one of our scheduled Chicago yacht charters rental, we’re here to make your experience unforgettable.

A Visual Journey on the Water

Discover the beauty of Chicago from a new perspective with our yacht rental Chicago services. Contact us today to reserve your spot and start planning your next aquatic adventure!

USCG Regulation

Per USCG regulations we are not allowed to provide you with a captain. You are welcome to either supply your own captain that meets all of the owner and USCG regulations or you may choose a captain from a list of  pre-approved captains that we have vetted and are familiar with our vessel.

Captain’s fee is separate and paid directly to the captain. Their average rate is $85-$100/hour. Gratuity is not included (20% is standard). Once you book with us we will provide you with the list of captains.

What Customers Say About Us

Dive into our reviews and envision yourself creating memories that last a lifetime aboard our exceptional fleet!

Unforgettable memories for you and your company

Discover yacht charter & rentals in chicago.

Welcome to the premier destination for boat rental in Chicago , where your unforgettable aquatic adventure begins. Whether you’re looking to host an elegant event or enjoy a serene cruise on Lake Michigan, our extensive fleet of luxury yachts and powerboats promises an experience like no other.

Why Choose Us for Your Chicago Boat Rentals? Our diverse fleet includes a range of meticulously maintained vessels, from sleek powerboats to opulent yachts, ensuring the perfect match for your needs. Our experienced crew members are dedicated to providing top-notch service, ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey. We offer customizable packages tailored to your preferences, making it easy to plan private celebrations, corporate events, or leisurely days out. Conveniently located at the heart of Chicago’s waterfront, our docking facilities provide easy access to the city’s stunning skyline and scenic vistas.

Explore Our Yacht Rental Chicago Services : Indulge in the ultimate luxury with our high-end yacht rentals. Perfect for weddings, anniversaries, or any special occasion, our yachts offer unparalleled comfort and elegance. For those seeking adventure, our powerboat rentals are the ideal choice. Experience the thrill of speeding across Lake Michigan with our top-of-the-line powerboats. Host your next event on the water with our private events and parties services; our yachts and boats provide a unique and memorable venue for birthdays, corporate gatherings, or any celebration. Discover Chicago from a new perspective with our sightseeing and tours that showcase the city’s iconic landmarks and breathtaking waterfront.

Book Your Chicago Boat Rentals Today! Ready to embark on your nautical adventure? Booking your boat rental in Chicago is easy. Simply contact our friendly team to discuss your needs and reserve the perfect vessel. Whether you’re seeking a yacht rental in Chicago for a luxurious experience or a powerboat rental for high-speed excitement, we have the ideal solution for you. Experience the best in Chicago boat rentals and make your next outing on the water truly unforgettable. Connect with us today and set sail on an extraordinary journey with the leading yacht and boat rental service in Chicago.

Contact Info

• Belmont Harbor (gate A) 2 West Belmont harbor Dr. (NW site of this locations) Chicago IL,60613
• [email protected]

Copyright © 2024 Rometheme. All Rights Reserved.

Yacht Features

• About Private Cruises
• Wedding Ceremonies and Receptions
• Pure Elegance
• Grande Gala
• VIP Classic
• Chicago Style
• Sunset Magic
• Island Adventure
• Champagne Lunch/Brunch
• Wild West BBQ
• Picnic on the Lake
• Fun in the Sun
• About Corporate Cruises
• Request Rate

Chicago yacht rentals

Welcome .

We cherish the opportunity to carry on Valara's spirit and Captain Val's excellence in service providing the very best in Chicago yacht rentals for luxury Lake Michigan, lakefront and river cruises aboard our well-appointed, 45-passenger, 68-foot luxury Chris Craft yacht dock at Burnham Harbor Chicago.

With Valara's retired owner and captain Val's blessing, valara.com is being managed by Chicago Private Yacht Rentals .

We look foward to providing you and your guests a priceless pampered private yachting experience.

About our Chicago yacht rentals Captains and Crew

Adeline’s Sea Moose yacht captains are professional and personable and have the required United States Coast Guard license to captain a vessel with paying passengers and the experience necessary to safely navigate Lake Michigan, the Lakefront and the Chicago River. Adeline's Sea Moose trained crew is friendly and attentive to ensure you and your guests have a memorable yachting experience.

About our Chicago yacht rentals for private cruises

We are detail-oriented, and from the moment you step foot aboard our luxury yacht until you disembark, our goal is simple: to make your Chicago yacht rental for private cruises experience truly exceptional. We understand our clients have busy lives, and arranging the details of a yacht charter in Chicago can be daunting. That's why we handle every detail of your luxury yacht rental and offer all-inclusive Chicago yacht rental for private cruise packages. Read more .

About our Chicago yacht rentals for corporate cruises

Well-appointed 68-foot luxury Chris Craft Roamer twin-engine yacht. Cozy lounge with wet bar, sizeable padded sundeck, specious bow area with comfortable seating, canopy fly deck with cushion bench seating, mid-deck entertainment area, kitchen, and breakfast nook, and 3 lower deck staterooms and 2 heads (restrooms). Yacht Features Photo Gallery 

Crew and Services

Our attentive crew provides the pampering and our catering service consciously tries to create an enticing and unforgettable culinary spread. And, our talented and skillful bartenders formulate and serve alcoholic or soft drink beverages that accommodate your and your guests’ specific and spontaneous cravings. Crew and Services 

J-Dock Burnham Harbor Chicago 1559 South Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60605. East of Lake Shore Drive at the end of Waldron Drive. The first dock north of the Harbormaster’s office. Burnham Harbor is situated within walking distance of downtown Chicago on the Museum Campus. Public parking available. Directions

• RATES/RESERVATIONS
• CONTACT US/FAQ’S

PRIVATE YACHT CHARTER

The city of chicago at it's finest., welcome aboard, nothing beats the beauty of lake michigan on a summer day.  as vast as an ocean, clean and fresh, tranquil and mesmerizing, yet temperamental and tempestuous, lake michigan always provides it’s own adventure., are you looking to experience the best part of chicago this summer   join us for a private excursion along the beautiful chicago shoreline, on the 46 foot luxury yacht, “great laker.”  whether you’re seeking a relaxing afternoon in the sun, a sunset cruise, the chicago air and water show or celebrating a special day, we can custom tailor your time to create a truly memorable experience., choose from several lake michigan chicago area excursions..

Swim in the calm waters of the Playpen or Monroe Harbor.

Cruise the gorgeous Chicago skyline.

Enjoy a glowing Chicago sunset.

Make it a relaxing day in the sun.

Experience the annual Chicago Air and Water Show.

It’s your time.  mix it up.

WEEKDAY SPECIAL! Monday & Tuesday! For info call, email or text! 708.928.2020

Home | About | Directions | Contact

Our largest most visually stunning and luxurious yacht

Cruise Lake Michigan today, even within the next hour

Cruise aborad the luxurious Espresso yacht today

Rent a yacht and cruise along Lake Michigan.

Take a one of a king cruise along Chicago's Lake front aboard any of our Luxurious Yachts. All of our vessels are one of a kind in their own ways, offering intimate Lake Michigan outings for friends, family, professional associates, conventioneers, bride and groom hosting wedding parties and many more.

Enjoy breath taking views of the Adler planetarium, Buckingham Fountain, McCormick Place, Navy Pier, and many other iconic Chicago Landmarks. Whether seated on the vessels open forward deck or stern deck, or inside on a massive wrap around couch with plenty of windows you're sure to get the best views.

All our vessels are fully certified with the United States Coast Guard and all of our captains have countless hours of experience underneath their licenses. Not to mention our very well-trained crew that will let your worries float away.

Before setting out on your next charter, be sure to choose an itinerary. Will it be:

• A sun filled rendezvous at the Rollicking Chicago Scene.
• A cruise along Chicago skyline with scenic view of the Adler planetarium, Buckingham Fountain, and McCormick Place.
• An evening charter beneath Chicago's dazzling twice—a—week fireworks display at Navy Pier.
• Or rent the yacht and chart your own itinerary (for a modest additional cost).

Act now as summer is fast approaching. Whether a suburbanite hosting a unique neighborhood block party, college students celebrating the arrival of summer, professionals honoring the accomplishments of a colleague, conventioneers in search of a unique outing and a panorama view of Chicago's fabled skyline—or whatever—reserve your Chicago yacht party now before our calendar is filled to the maximum.

For Further Details, Call Us Now at 708-928-2020!

See what others think of us by visiting yelp ! Or visit uf on facebook !

Copyright ©2023 by ChicagoYachtParty. All rights reserved.

Free Spirit Private Yacht Charters

Experience all-inclusive luxury and set sail across the crystal blue waters of lake michigan., lake michigan, chicago, il, welcome aboard, whether celebrating a birthday or entertaining corporate clients, we personalize every detail of your event to provide an extraordinary experience you’ll never forget. soak in the magic of the chicago skyline. sip on refreshing cocktails and indulge in an array of delicious food. we’re thrilled to have you on board.

• Free Spirit

Our spacious Free Spirit luxury yacht accommodates up to 120 people and is custom-designed for your relaxation and comfort, inside and out. Free Spirit is perfect for larger groups for business meetings, company outings, networking events, family celebrations, weddings or parties. Whatever the occasion, it’s more memorable when it’s a boat!

• Gypsy Spirit

Our Gypsy Spirit luxury charter yacht is perfect for an intimate gathering or a small company outing. The Gypsy accommodates up to 49 passengers, offering multi-level entertaining with a salon, galley, and aft deck lounge area. Sit back, relax and cruise Chicago River or Lake Michigan.

WHAT WE Offer

We make special occasions memorable!

At Free Spirit Yacht Cruise, we go above and beyond to guarantee your occasion is truly special. You can delight out-of-state visitors with breathtaking views of Chicago’s world-famous skyline. Host a casual breakfast cruise with sparkling mimosas.

Need to impress new business clients? Break out of the ordinary and stun clients with an elegant dinner on a cruise along Lake Michigan.

From our attentive staff to the luxurious ambiance, our gorgeous yachts offer the perfect venue for you to host your next event.

Ready to Start Planning Your Event?

Free Spirit Yacht Cruises

708-361-2220

[email protected]

Burnham Harbor, Chicago, IL

Interested in chartering a yacht with us? Contact Free Spirit Cruises at 708-361-2220 or complete our online form. Let’s see how we can help you today!

Have A Question? Contact Us Today!

• TESTIMONIALS
• TERMS AND CONDITIONS
• PRIVACY POLICY

" * " indicates required fields

© 2024 Free Spirit Yacht Cruises. Designed By IMG

• Preferred Vendors
• Client Reviews
• Corporate Clients
• CATERING & BAR MENU
• DEPARTURE LOCATION

Choices Charters ​

Experience Chicago on the Water

Choices Charters Luxury Yacht Rentals

Experience elegance at its finest. .

The Choices Charters invites you to cruise with us along the beautiful blue waters of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. Join us for private trips, spectacular views and unforgettable memories on a private yacht of your dreams! We are here to give you the very best boating experience possible by exceeding your expectations. 

ROMANTIC DINNER CRUISE FOR TWO

A private boat dinner is the epitome of romance and luxury combined into one perfect evening. Imagine dining on a private yacht with a perfectly painted Lake Michigan sunset as your backdrop, your favorite song playing in the background, and gourmet food prepared by our Signature Chef Kathryn’s Soul. Kathryn's Soul's Catering has a romantic all inclusive menu designed to suit your every taste and need, with the option to cater to special diets. Catering is sold separately.

Our Rental Experiences

Dockside Bed & Breaksfast

Dockside Rental

Romantic Dinner Cruise for Two

Iconic Lakefront Cruise

Wednesday Morning Sunrise Retreat

Signature Dining Experience

Lake Michigan Sunset Cruise

Navy Pier Firework Cruise

Just Chill'n

Captain Ed is a US Coast Guard Certified, Licensed Captain. He is a Navy Veteran (Viet Nam Era). He has been boating for over 15 Years. His love for being on the water has led him to desiring that others experience the beauty and serenity of the Sea. Choices Charters is the result of Choice. Captain Ed strongly believes that “The Choices we make, dictate the lives that we lead.”  thus, the name of his boat and his desire to expose others to the beauty of the boating lifestyle.

Kathryn’s Soul

Kathryn Miles, chef and owner of Kathryn’s Soul. Her love for cooking and baking started at the very young age of 10. Her father noticed that she had a gift for cooking, so he began to encourage it.

In 2019, Kathryn decided to take a chance and pursue her passion. Kathryn’s Soul, a restaurant that offers quality comfort food made with love was born.

"The choices we make, dictate the lives that we lead."

From the city to the shore.

TESTIMONIALS

GREG & MARIE

Every summer, I have the perfect  getaway on the Choices Charter! Sitting on the dockside is just enough for me to enjoy the Chicago Skyline and Lake Michigan.  

My first week in Chicago, I was able to set sail with my  friends for her birthday with Captain Ed. The combination of a relaxed atmosphere and impeccable service was perfect.

OTIS & CHANTI

We had the best time with Choices Charters! Captain Ed was very  accommodating ! This was our  first  time on a private  yacht.   We highly recommend!

The Most Fun You’ll Have With The Sails Up!

The Vagabond | Setting Sail from Montrose Harbor | 601 W. Montrose Dr. – Chicago, IL 60613 | 630-816-1427

Enjoy the awesome Chicago skyline

Take a nice relaxing sunset sail

Chicago Sailing Charters

Group | Private | Corporate Yacht | Event Rentals

At Two Brothers Sailing Adventures Chicago we take great pride in providing a wide selection of sailing charters and adventure options in the Chicago area. Every yacht we charter or sailing package we offer has been designed with safe and fun activities that are also uniquely planned to make the most of your time. If you don’t know about Chicago sailing or yacht rental on Lake Michigan, it is a great getaway in the Spring, Summer and Fall months. Our safety record is impeccable and our charter captains are fully trained and licensed. You are guaranteed to have a sailing adventure with captains and crew that are all accomplished Lake Michigan sailors excited to share their love of adventure sailing and the water, with a passion for entertaining new passengers and friends in Chicago.  It is easy to Charter a sailing adventure by checking our availability . We love seeing our friends return year after year! When you book a Chicago sailing charter or yacht rental adventure with us, you’ll soon see why people love to go ‘sails up’ with us.

We’re Ready to Put Our Sails Up for You

Two Brothers Sailing Adventures is ready to put our sails up for you. It all starts by tailoring the length of your sail within two to three hours, or more. We provide many options and choices including the sites you’ll sail to and see and the fare you’ll be treated to during your trip with us. Each sailing adventure is conducted by one of our licensed captains with the duty of keeping their passengers safe and entertained on beautiful Lake Michigan.

Two Brothers Sailing Adventures is your Chicago sailing destination. We pride ourselves on offering a wide selection of adventure, including small boat rentals, luxury yacht charters and sailing lessons. Whether you’re traveling from the Midwest, or across Lake Michigan, Two Brothers Sailing Adventures is the perfect destination for an adventurous sailing getaway in Chicago. Our licensed charter captains are fully trained, and we guarantee you’ll have a fun, safe sail in the Chicago area. We look forward to welcoming you aboard, and showing you why people love to go “sails up” with Two Brothers Sailing Adventures.

We may be the captain, but when you sail with us, we let you take the helm. Whether you want to sail for two hours or five, see specific sites, or just sit back and enjoy Lake Michigan, we’re committed to providing you with a unique Chicago sailing experience. 

Let’s set sail together and make some great memories!

We encourage you to be yourself unless you want to be a pirate then always be a pirate! We pride ourselves on using ALL of our sails, not just revving an engine and calling it sailing in Chicago. All of our sails fly high barring safety concerns.

Sailing Services in Chicago Include the Following:

Sailing Lessons

Boat Charters

Boat Rentals

Contact us to schedule your next sailing adventure on the Chicago Lakefront. We’re ready to set sail and provide you with adventures of a lifetime for your co-workers, friends and families.

See the beautiful sights – Sail the city front from Museum Row to Navy Pier…

Sail to the historic Chicago Cribs and beyond . You still get the great city views while adventuring a bit further to sea…

Swim Socialize and Sunbathe – Sail over and join the crazy crowds at Chicago’s famous Playpen – a protected anchoring area just off Oak Street Beach where boaters of all kinds park and play…

Sunsets with your sweetheart – This is a couples sail scheduled so that you capture breathtaking views of the sun setting while the city lights are rising – truly a perfect date night…

Sunsets with family and friends – Like the romance sail, you will enjoy the beauty of day turning to night…but on this ride you’ll have to sneak below to get alone because your passengers will be tagging along for the fun…

• FAQ’s
• Chicago Boat Charters
• Chicago Sailing
• Blue Moon Sailing Club
• Preservation Pirates

Setting Sail From

Montrose Harbor Chicago, IL 60613 630-816-1427 *contact us upon arrival for dock details

LIFE STARTS AT THE PIER

LAKE MICHIGAN

Why mpower charters.

As a frontrunner in the yacht charter industry, we boast an unparalleled wealth of experience and an unmatched track record. While our esteemed position is a source of great pride, our true sense of accomplishment stems from our dedicated team. Each member of our staff is unwaveringly committed to delivering the utmost in service—marked by transparency and reliability. In the realm of yachting, you won't find a more qualified or trustworthy partner than MPower Charters and Yacht Rentals.

YOUR PERFECT

You're the Captain

Chicago Boat Rental

The best view in the city.

Come experience the calm side of Chicago. Nautical Chicago Boat Rentals allows you to explore on your own terms. You are the Captain. Cruise, Fish, or Swim. Lake Michigan is yours. Our boats are carefully chosen to be easy to drive while still being a capable big water boat. Book your Chicago boat rental today and experience what the city has to offer on the Great Lake Michigan!

Lake Michigan Boat Rental

Looking for the best option to explore the lake on your own? We offer Lake Michigan boat rentals for you to start your adventure today! Explore Lake Michigan like never before – be your own captain, lead your own crew.

Chicago Boat Rentals

Nautical Chicago Boat Rentals has boats waiting for your adventure out onto Lake Michigan. Forget about the hassle of owning and maintaining a boat, rent one of ours! Trust only us when it comes to booking your Chicago Boat Rental.

Testimonials

Best Chicago Boat Tours

Knock out charters.

2-5 Hour Private Charters

Take a cruise tailored to your preferences. Spend some time anchored, sunning or swimming! Let us customize the perfect cruise for you. I don’t think we have ever said no unless it was illegal.

Built to cruise the ocean, she plays on Lake Michigan with ease. With plenty of space, this boat has all the amenities and comforts of home. This boat is the pride of the Chicago Charter Boat fleet.

Special Chicago Boat Trips

Marriage Proposals

You waited your whole life to meet this person and to ask what probably will be the most important question you ask in your entire life. They waited their whole life for you to ask this question.

Casino Package

We depart Chicago and head South to The Horseshoe Casino in Hammond. We drop you off right at the parking deck for some casino fun. We can either wait for you or help you arrange a Limo back to the city.

Architecture Tour

Discover Chicago’s architectural marvels from the comfort of a private boat tour. Glide along the Chicago River, enjoying expert commentary on iconic skyscrapers, historic landmarks, and innovative designs.

Contact Us or Book Direct Online to Make a Reservation

Knock Out Charters is an award-winning company in Chicago. We want you to be as happy as we are to be enjoying Lake Michigan and the spectacular views of Chicago from both the Lake and The Chicago River...

The Captain

Licensed Master Captain Chris Connor has been boating for over 40 years on a myriad of both Power and Sail boats. He has been on Lake Michigan for over 20 years, and the passion has not waned one bit...

Chicago Boat Trip Photo Gallery

Contact info.

• Phone (312) 613-9799
• Email [email protected]
• Address DuSable Harbor 111 N. Lake Shore Drive Chicago IL, 60601

Book Direct

• Cancellations less than 24 hours in advance, deposit will not be refunded.
• Cancellations more than 24 hours, deposit will be refunded.
• In the case of weather-related cancellations by Knock Out Charters, customers will be offered opportunity to re-schedule or be refunded their deposit.

© 2019 - 2024 All Rights Reserved

Celebrations Cruises and Special Occasions Charters

Adeline’s Sea Moose offers the most unique private yacht rental in Chicago to celebrate any occasion—a private luxury yacht cruising Lake Michigan with Chicago’s shoreline and skyline as a backdrop, and her attentive crew providing plenty of pampering is why she continues to be the private luxury yacht party of choice for all types of celebrations and special occasion.

Living Life to the Fullest

Living Life to its Fullest with a Chicago Private Yacht Rentals Priceless Pampered Private Yachting Experience about our Adeline’s Sea Moose that will last a lifetime.

Birthday Party Yacht Charters

A Legendary Birthday Party Yacht Rental in Chicago

 At 68 feet in length with 4-decks, Adeline’s Sea Moose private birthday party yacht rental in Chicago will help make celebrating any age milestone a legendary moment.  With our birthday party yacht rental in Chicago, you can decorate Adeline’s Sea Moose, arrange for catering, and choose from the bar and beverage service options.

Anniversary Yacht Charters

A unique Yacht Rental in Chicago to celebrate any Anniversary

Our Adeline’s Sea Moose yacht rental in Chicago offers a unique way to celebrate any anniversary. In addition to a private setting with beautiful views of Chicago’s skyline and a pampering crew, our yacht rental in Chicago anniversary options offers food and beverage choices and service options to match the celebration.

Perfect Chicago Private Yacht Rentals Enhanced Matchmaking Experience with lakefront events and attractions

Chicago Private Yacht Rentals  Navy Pier Fireworks ,  Chicago Air and Water Shows , and concerts and events in Millennium Park, Grant Park, and Northerly Island matchmaking with a pampered private Adeline’s Sea Moose yacht charter make for even more priceless moments and memories.

Matchmaking experiences with the nearby Alder Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, and Field Museum and taking a Lake Michigan cruise on Adeline’s Sea Moose can also enhance your, your family’s, and friends’ priceless pampered private yachting experience

Birthday celebrations cruises are one of our most requested charters.

So, what’s the difference between birthday party boat rentals and birthday yacht rentals? With Chicago Private Yacht Rentals birthday charters there is no difference, it is always a one-of-a-kind celebration. Also, our Adeline’s Sea Moose pampered private yacht party experience stands out when compared to other birthday party boat rentals in Chicago.

For the best birthday party boat rentals in Chicago, Chicago Private Yacht Rentals delivers.

When it comes to the best birthday party boat rentals in Chicago, our Adeline’s Sea Moose helps amp up the age-achieving milestone for a truly outstanding, unforgettable celebration!

Our Adeline’s Sea Moose birthday celebration charters, for up to 45 guests, will not disappoint as the best birthday party boat rentals in Chicago.

Best Chicago boat rental for birthday party on Lake Michigan 

Because our Chicago Private Yacht Rentals charters host private birthday celebrations, you and your guest do not have to worry about sharing what will be the best Chicago boat rental for birthday party on Lake Michigan.

To ensure we deliver the best Chicago boat rental for your birthday all you have to do is tell us your vision and expectations to make your celebration one that none of your guests will ever forget!

(224) 601-0220

Charitable charters.

Cruising into a bright future with Inner Voice Chance to win 3.5-hour Lake Michigan cruise for up to 32 people on Adeline’s Sea Moose.

You will not be disappointed

TEXT Only 312-500-7838

Docking Address: J-Dock Burnham Harbor 1559 South Lake Shore Drive Chicago , IL 60605 at the end of Waldron Drive. The first dock north of the Harbormaster’s office.

Office Address: Chicago Private Yacht Rental, Inc 4751 West Touhy Avenue Suite 101 Lincolnwood, IL 60712

2024 Season Reservations Now Open!

Cruise. Relax. Explore. Live. PARTY BOAT RENTAL ON LAKE MICHIGAN

Boat rental chicago.

44' Searay Sundancer

Type: Motor Yacht

Make Model: Sea Ray Sundancer

Length: 44 ft

Capacity: 13 People

Rental Min: 3 hours

Cancellation: Full Refund 5 Days Prior

Price: Starting $399/hr Pricing includes ALL Captain, Gas, and Docking fees

44' Searay Express

Make Model: Sea Ray 400 Express

Length: 45 ft

70’ Sunseeker

Make Model: Sunseeker Manhattan

Length: 70 ft

Rental Min: 4 hours

Price: Starting $999/hr Pricing includes everything

Live Instagram Feed @funinthesunboating

Cloudy, but still booking trips! #chicagobears #chicagoriver #beach #northave #chicagocubs A post shared by Fun In The Sun (@funinthesunboating) on Jul 3, 2017 at 11:08am PDT

Views | Spots filling up! Book now! | #cubs #chicagocubs #beach #northave #chicagoriver #bears #chicagobears A post shared by Fun In The Sun (@funinthesunboating) on Jun 19, 2017 at 5:21pm PDT

Great day out on the lake today! | Weekends are getting booked! Act fast! | #chicago #chicagoriver #northave #beach #chicagocubs #cubs A post shared by Fun In The Sun (@funinthesunboating) on Jun 16, 2017 at 1:30pm PDT

Enjoy a beautiful day on Lake Michigan on a Private Yacht Today!

Whether you are looking to party, unwind, or enjoy a bit if romance, Fun In The Sun Yacht Rental is here to take care of all of your needs. With our famous boat in Chicago, we are able to offer you an unforgettable cruise on Lake Michigan with breathtaking views of the McCormick Place, Adler Planetarium, Navy Pier and other iconic Chicago landmarks meet anyone’s price point and needs.

A Chicago Harbor yacht cruise is perfect for corporate events, a birthday party, wedding cruise, bar mitzvah, rehearsal dinner, anniversary, or any nautical celebration. We pride ourselves in the integrity of the advice we offer to each of our clients.

We provide competitive rates and the most caring and personal customer service with our captains who has spent more than thirty years combined sailing the coastal waters. Our fully certified by the U.S. Coast Guard yachts offer a one-of-a-kind meeting location for corporate events.

Book your luxury yachts with Fun In The Sun and choose one of our offers:

- An Evening Cruise Beneath Chicago's Dazzling Twice—a—week Fireworks Display - A Sun—filled Rendezvous at the Rollicking Chicago Scene - A Pass Around McCormick Place, Adler Planetarium, Buckingham Fountain - A Rent the Yacht and Chart—Your—Own Itinerary (For a modest additional cost)

Bring your wn food and drink and you will experience a level of service unmatched by any event planner.

Luxurious Experience

Enjoy Chicago on your private yacht.

Great Summer? Reserve your unique stay today! Reserve now! Summer is approaching!

Reserve your spot

Relax on the stunning Stray Kat

With it's sleek lines and bold look this mega yacht features multiple Staterooms, Galleys, Saloon, Guest Cabins, Aft deck with full bar and dining table, Fly bridge with a large open area, web bar, full szie grill, sun deck, jacuzzi and much more!

Cruise aboard luxurious Martini

Offering tons of seating, wrap-around settee with table to port and a wet bar to starboard. Very roomy interior, private staterooms, fully equipped galley, lots of storage, enclosed flybridge with a full size refrigerator/freezer.

The perfect vacation, all in the palm of your hand!

Take a One—of—a—Kind, Care—Free Cruise along Chicago's Lakefront aboard the "Martini," a 60—foot—long, twelve—ton, all—fiberglass SeaRay luxury yacht rental. The Martini is the only luxury Chicago yacht rental of its kind offering intimate Lake Michigan outings for friends, family, professional associates, conventioneers, brides and grooms hosting wedding parties, and many others.

Enjoy breathtaking views of the Adler Planetarium, McCormick Place, Navy Pier and other iconic Chicago landmarks-whether seated on the yacht party broad foredeck or on the yacht's stern deck or on a massive wraparound sofa in the yacht's air conditioned, window—lined cabin down below. Will it be:

• An Evening Cruise Beneath Chicago's Dazzling Twice—a—week Fireworks Display
• A Sun—filled Rendezvous at the Rollicking Chicago Scene
• A Pass Around McCormick Place, Adler Planetarium, Buckingham Fountain
• Or a Rent the Yacht and Chart—Your—Own Itinerary (For a modest additional cost)

act now as summer is fast approaching. Whether a suburbanite hosting a unique neighborhood block party, college students celebrating the arrival of summer, professionals honoring the accomplishments of a colleague, conventioneers in search of a unique outing and a panorama view of Chicago's fabled skyline—or whatever—reserve your Chicago yacht party now before Martini's calendar is filled to the maximum.

Don’t wait, book now!

Summer dates are filling up fast!

Reserve yours today!

Cruise Amenities

Saturday and Sunday Scheduled Yacht Cruise Times: 8:00am - 11:00am Early Bird Special 12:00pm - 3:00pm 4:00pm - 7:00pm 8:00pm - 11:00pm Wednesday and Saturday Fireworks Yacht Cruises: Wednesday Firework Cruise - 7:30pm - 10:30pm Saturday Firework Cruise - 8:00pm - 11:00pm --->

A Fireworks Display Evening A Sun filled Rollicking Chicago Scene A Pass Around McCormick Place Adler Planetarium Buckingham Fountain Or Chart Your Own Itinerary

Boat Rental Cruise Amenities: Tantalizing Food and Drink Packages Available. Or, Bring Your Own Food and Beverage With A Licensed Captain at the Helm, and Hearty First Mates Serving Your Drinks and Food, Sit Back, Relax and Leave All Worries Behind on Shore.

Don't wait, call today!

See what others think of us!

Chicago man.

Lake Michigan Boating Guide

Table of Contents

Last Updated on August 23, 2024 by Boatsetter Team

With over 1,600 miles of coastline to explore, Lake Michigan can’t be beat for gunkholing, cruising, and sailboat racing. One of the five Great Lakes, this giant body of water is over 300 miles long, has more than 22,000 square miles of surface area, and borders four sates so there’s always somewhere to go and somewhere to rent a boat with a sharing service like Boatsetter. From Indiana to Chicago and Milwaukee to Mackinac, there are dozens of secluded anchorages, state parks, and charming waterfront towns to visit.

Where to Go

You could spend years of summers exploring all that Lake Michigan offers but if you have just a few days of boat rental each season, consider checking out some of these destinations.

Grand Traverse Bay is well-protected and generally calm even if Lake Michigan itself is less so. Learn about Ernest Hemmingway who was from the area or explore the town of Charlevoix that is split in two by a canal which leads to Round Pond and Lake Charlevoix. Bring or rent bikes and ride the 26-mile Little Traverse Wheelway for some exercise.

Visit scenic Door County in Wisconsin on the lake’s western shore. The Door County Lighthouse Festival is popular as are July 4 th fireworks in Egg Harbor. And you don’t want to miss the Sturgeon Bay Harvest Festival in late September. Harbor hopping in this area can’t be beat.

Beaver Island is the opposite of busy Mackinac. This remote island is 35 miles from Charlevoix on the mainland and tends to be a quiet respite with an unpretentious municipal dock and fun toy museum. The beaches are pristine and you won’t want to miss the Whiskey Point Lighthouse and the Beaver Head Lighthouse for their spectacular views. Check the weather before crossing from the mainland so you don’t get caught in 30-mile winds which are not uncommon here.

Activities & Highlights

Whether you’re in Milwaukee, Chicago, or Door County, there’s much to do during the summer including live music, wine tastings and art festivals. One big draw is the Chicago Air & Water Show that takes place in August and on a boat, you’ll have front row seats to the action. Another can’t miss event is the Playpen boat party which is like a giant tailgate party for boaters that draws in excess of 800 boats in late July.

There are also sailing regattas like the famous “Mac” race that runs from the Chicago Yacht Club to Mackinac Island. This race takes place in July, is over 300 miles long, and over 125 years old. Join the sailboat send off in Chicago or welcome them at the finish line at the island and partake of all the activities and celebrations on both sides of this classic event.

Lake Michigan is long and it can build up seriously large waves when a northerly wind runs along its entire length. Always check the weather before departing, especially if you’ll be boating farther south around Chicago where the weather and sea state can get gnarly. Freshwater forms steeper waves than saltwater because it’s less dense and running into a wall of square waves is no fun.

It can also get very cold in winter with temps below freezing in January near the Windy City. Target to rent a boat in the area from May to October but be ready to change course or cruising plans, especially in spring and fall when the weather may be iffy. Dress appropriately, bring lots of layers, pack flashlights in case you’re caught out after dark, and don’t forget some extra food and water.

Rules & Regulations

There are a few things to know before you untie the dock lines. Like in most other states, the Coast Guard requires all children under 13 to wear a lifejacket when aboard a vessel under way, and there must be a sufficient number of PFDs for the rest of the people aboard as well. You as the operator, cannot bring the boat within 150 feet of a person in the water for safety reasons – unless you’re participating in watersports.

Also, Lake Michigan is located in its entirety within the United States which means there are no check-in requirements for Canadian immigration or customs. You’ll have a bureaucracy-free run of the whole lake.

Serious Boating

Just because it’s called a lake doesn’t mean you should take it less seriously than coastal boating on the ocean. The Great Lakes are massive bodies of water and Lake Michigan can be nearly 200 miles across so it will take some time to traverse. Be boating savvy and prepared. All this said, there are great anchorages, wonderful beaches, and much to do on its shores so book a boat and have fun all summer long

Boatsetter  is the leading online marketplace for boat rentals and on-water experiences. Download the Boatsetter app ( App Store  |  Google Play ) and follow us on  Instagram .

Zuzana Prochazka is an award-winning freelance journalist and photographer with regular contributions to more than a dozen sailing and powerboating magazines and online publications including Southern Boating, SEA, Latitudes & Attitudes and SAIL. She is SAIL magazines Charter Editor and the Executive Director of Boating Writers International. Zuzana serves as judge for SAIL’s Best Boats awards and for Europe’s Best of Boats in Berlin. 

A USCG 100 Ton Master, Zuzana founded and manages a flotilla charter organization called Zescapes that takes guests adventure sailing at destinations worldwide. 

Zuzana has lived in Europe, Africa and the United States and has traveled extensively in South America, the islands of the South Pacific and Mexico. 

Browse by experience

Explore articles

A Guide to the Different Parts of a Sailboat  

5 Siesta Key Restaurants on the Water

What to Pack for a Sailing Trip

Beaches, boats, freedom with July 4th boat rentals in Chicago

Final Day Recap: DNC wraps with Kamala Harris' acceptance speech urging to seize this opportunity

The democratic national convention’s fourth and final night crescendoed with vice president kamala harris’ speech urging americans to seize a “precious, fleeting opportunity” to move beyond political divisions and the threat of donald trump..

Vice President Kamala Harris accepted her party’s presidential nomination on Thursday, the final night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. After her speech to delegates gathered in the United Center, she was joined onstage by (left) her husband, Doug Emhoff, her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (second from left) and Walz’s wife, Gwen Walz.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

In her speech bringing a triumphal end to the four-day Democratic National Convention, Vice President Kamala Harris urged Americans to seize a “precious, fleeting opportunity” to move beyond political divisions and the threat of Republican Donald Trump.

Harris is the first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to be run for president as the nominee of a major party, and supporters throughout the convention crowd marked the moment by turning out in white, the traditional color of the suffragette cause. The convention also featured rising stars of the Democratic Party, survivors of mass shootings and others who showcased pressing issues in American life.

The crowded lineup reflected the immense work Democrats have before them, having just repurposed President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign into the Harris-Walz campaign in the month since Biden bowed out of the race.

Even after the festivities concluded inside the United Center, in the streets nearby, tensions between police and pro-Palestinian protesters continued to build.

After five days of protests, the activists who came to Chicago to make sure Democrats heard their voices wanted to finish strong and create a palpable contrast between the party celebrating Harris at the arena and a group chanting about genocide blocks away, trying to get the Democrats’ attention.

Kamala Harris accepts nomination: Kamala Harris vows to transcend “divisive battles of the past”

Protest tension: Protesters took to the streets in final night of the DNC

Where is Beyoncé? : Not in Chicago, says publicist

‘Politics of joy’ messaging: Could this message push her ahead of Trump

Chicago vibes: Illinois first lady MK Pritzker revels in Chicago DNC vibe: ‘The whole place just feels of feminine energy!’

Photos : See the convention through the lenses of Sun-Times photographers

At first, it seemed Chicago was safe from Jon Stewart’s wrath.

On his lone night anchoring “The Daily Show” during its week in town, the New York native opened with a string of jokes and observations strictly about the Democratic National Convention. Let the other correspondents snicker about hot dogs and The Bean and Malört on their nights; Thursday, it was going to be strictly about the whole nation’s affairs.

But then ... a Fox News remark that “you can’t feed your family on good vibes” was too much. Stewart couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“I think,” he said on the live show, “you might confusing vibes with the tomato-infused, soup-adjacent fondue ... the WEAPON OF MASS LACTATION ... that this city calls F- - -ING PIZZA!!!”

The crowd at the Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture booed Stewart, who has bashed Chicago deep-dish for years.

But he offered one concession, muttering under his breath, “The bar pies are good.”

The city has moved five snowplows onto Ashland as protesters stand in the street and block DNC traffic.

A group of agitators aren’t letting people through unless they say they support Palestinians.

“They’re very in-your-face,” a DNC attendee walking up Ashland Avenue says of the remaining protesters.

DNC attendees are walking past Union Park, where the earlier scuffle happened. They're getting chants of "shame on you" and "stop funding genocide." Chicago police have totally disappeared from the scene, and traffic is fully open on Ashland Avenue. It's a bit of a free-for-all. — Nader Issa (@NaderDIssa) August 23, 2024

Down to a handful of protesters mostly on the sidewalk, one or two blocking cars, though mostly media are blocking the street trying to get the shot. Five snow plows here. Police left a bit ago, I haven’t seen any in a while. pic.twitter.com/fF1vsl5P5u — Violet Miller (@_ViMiller) August 23, 2024

A man stuck in northbound Ashland traffic while protesters, media and police block the road got out of his car and screamed, “Get the f—- out of the way!”

The hundreds of police officers who were here earlier have disappeared from Ashland, which has become a bit of a free-for-all.

A group of protesters are standing out in the middle of the street to block traffic. Others are confronting DNC attendees leaving.

A few passerby cars are honking their horns in support of protesters.

Cops seemed to have completely fallen back, now some protesters are confronting #DNC attendees pic.twitter.com/jXWxCUYqt5 — Lisa Kurian Philip (@LAPhilip) August 23, 2024

The remaining group of protesters have cleared out of Union Park and is following DNC attendees chanting “shame on you.”

There are more than 100 members of the media — many of them out-of-town, TV and alt media — crowding around the group, so it’s hard to tell how many actually remain.

It’s a bit of a chaotic scene because Ashland is fully open to northbound traffic leaving the DNC. Some attendees covered their faces with “Harris Walz” signs as they walked through the scrum of media.

A small number of protesters tried to block a police squadrol after a person was detained.

Crowd chanting "let him go" pic.twitter.com/w8vvAPvQuW — Lisa Kurian Philip (@LAPhilip) August 23, 2024

Exiting the DNC pic.twitter.com/HKNPzMBygi — Mitchell Armentrout (@mitchtrout) August 23, 2024

DNC attendees leaving the United Center are running into protesters near Union Park, who are continuing to chant.

People seem to be filing out of the DNC past the corner, which protesters have returned to and are shouting “ceasefire now.” — Violet Miller (@_ViMiller) August 23, 2024

Police have re-established a line on the curb as a man waving a black flag in the street is detained.

Protesters now shouting at people across Ashland and running across chanting “shame on you.”

For a minute, Chicago police failed to block traffic on Ashland Avenue, so people and media were walking through the street while honking cars tried zooming by, in one case almost hitting someone.

Kamala Harris looks onto an at-capacity crowd at the United Center on the final day of the DNC.

Eight years after Hillary Clinton made history as the first woman to win a major party nomination for president , Vice President Kamala Harris tonight picked up the torch in Chicago, potentially putting her on her own historic path.

In accepting the Democratic nomination at the United Center, Harris could become the first woman and first Asian American to ascend to the White House.

Harris framed the November election as “a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism, and divisive battles of the past. A chance to chart a new way forward. Not as members of any one party or faction, but as Americans.

“On behalf of the people, on behalf of every American, regardless of party, race gender, or the language your grandma speaks, on behalf of my mother…on behalf of Americans like the people I grew up with, people who work hard, chase their dreams and look out for one another,” Harris said. “On behalf of everyone whose story could only be written the greatest nation on Earth, I accept your nomination.”

The former California senator and attorney general noted the unprecedented nature of taking President Joe Biden’s place atop the ticket four months ahead of the election — “but I’m no stranger to unlikely journeys,” she said.

That was encapsulated in her middle-class upbringing under her immigrant mother, Shyamala Harris, the nominee said to a jam-packed United Center to close out the Democratic National Convention.

“My mother was 19 when she crossed the world alone, traveling from India to California with an unshakable dream to be the scientist who would cure breast cancer,” Harris said.

“Before she could finally afford to buy a home, she rented a small apartment in the East Bay. In the Bay, you either live in the hills or the flatlands. We lived in the flats — a beautiful working-class neighborhood of firefighters, nurses, and construction workers, all who tended their lawns with pride.”

“She told us we could be anything, and do anything,” Harris said. “My mother was a brilliant, 5-foot-tall Brown woman with an accent… She taught us to never complain about injustice, but do something about it.”

Harris said the consequences of another Trump presidency “are extremely serious.”

“Consider the power he will have, especially after the United States Supreme Court just ruled that he would be immune to criminal prosecution,” Harris said. “Just imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails. He would use the immense powers of the presidency…not to improve your life, not to strengthen our national security, but to serve the only client he has ever had. Himself.”

Kamala Harris speaks on the final night of the DNC.

Harris’ remarks capped a four-day star-studded and energetic convention that Democrats hope will continue to mobilize voters in key battleground states ahead of the November election against the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump.

Earlier, former Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger declared “Donald Trump has suffocated the soul of the Republican Party,” on a night that also featured high-profile Democratic governors, including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper.

“The Republican Party is no longer conservative,” and loyal only to Trump, Kinzinger, a Republican, said, callingTrump “a small man who pretends to be big.”

Illinois Democrats hailed the potential of a trailblazing candidate.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul earlier this month participated in a Harris fundraising call with more than 40,000 Black men from across the country and spoke about the misogyny among Black men who were resistant to support her because she’s a woman.

“If you can demonstrate that you can appreciate someone as qualified as that, whose a woman, and push our full support behind them, that demonstrates that you don’t have the insecurity, and that demonstrates you as stronger,” Raoul said today. “...I think Hillary Clinton experienced losses because of such misogyny in 2016, but I think we’re growing out of that. Part of growing out of that is that demonstration of strong leadership that she [Harris] puts forth and her ability just to not take s - - - from anybody.”

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who also serves as chair of the Cook County Democratic Party, said the country has learned a lot since 2016.

“As a teacher, you always say, you can’t be what you can’t see,” Preckwinkle said. “And I think it’s really important to, particularly young women in this country, to see women ascend to the highest office of the land.”

“What better way to show our girls and young women that they can and should be involved and run for office, than to see a smart, tough, thoughtful woman of color fighting for them in the White House?”

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle speaks during the Illinois Presidential Delegation’s breakfast at the Royal Sonesta Chicago Downtown in the Loop today.

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

South Side state Rep. Theresa Mah said she and fellow Asian American delegates from across the country this week relished the possibility of electing the nation’s first Asian American president — a prospect she says will boost turnout in Chicago and beyond.

“People are getting up off their couches and going to the ballot box this November because there’s something they can connect to,” said Mah, who became the first Asian American elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 2016.

“People want to feel empowered. They want to feel like they’re agents of change. I think that’s a really important thing that Kamala Harris brings to this election,” Mah said.

Mayor Brandon Johnson said the significance of potentially electing the first Black woman president was captured in the look on his daughter’s face when he showed her a picture of his wife and him alongside Harris.

“I said, ‘Braedyn, this woman who’s vice president is going to be president of the United States of America,” Johnson recalled.

“It’s not just her. She’s bringing a whole bunch of us with us. She’s got us,” Johnson said of Harris. “She’s smart, she’s tough, she’s resilient, she’s America.”

Doug Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Gwen Walz stand onstage as the DNC comes to a close.

Thousands of balloons were released following Kamala Harris’ speech on the final night of the DNC.

Katie Anthony/Sun-Times

Following Kamala Harris’ speech at the DNC, organizers continued convention tradition by dropping thousands of balloons.

As the balloons fell, Harris was joined by her husband Doug Emhoff and her pick for vice president, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and his wife, Gwen Walz.

DNC staffers say 100,000 red, white and blue balloons were released.

Now ⁦ @DemConvention ⁩ ⁦ @KamalaHarris ⁩ pic.twitter.com/myVATcGmmZ — Lynn Sweet (@lynnsweet) August 23, 2024

Police have given an order to disperse to the remaining protesters in Union Park.

A police spokesperson is telling media to give police space.

Supervisors are negotiating with NLG green hats and I think organizers. pic.twitter.com/NHSSnk63Bu — Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere (@TylerLaRiviere) August 23, 2024

“It’s time to go,” the spokesperson said. “You’ve been given an order from the superintendent.”

“All media, let’s go. Go either north, east or west. It’s time to go.”

The people remaining in the park marched directly into a line of Chicago police officers, prompting a scuffle. Cops wearing helmets came to the front of the line pushing the group back and yelling "move back!" pic.twitter.com/vNKsSbDeik — Nader Issa (@NaderDIssa) August 23, 2024

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris is hitting every data point — polls, crowds, campaign donations — to justify a conclusion on the final night of the convention in Chicago that this may actually be the year the U.S. elects a female president.

There is one other intangible factor that could push her ahead of Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Read more here .

Beyoncé did not appear at the last night of the Democratic National Convention.

Speculation had swirled all day about if the DNC would bring a “special” surprise guest on stage tonight and if that surprise would be the pop superstar.

Thursday evening, The Hollywood Reporter reported that a representative for the pop superstar said she was never scheduled to attend. Beyoncé's longtime publicist Yvette Noel-Schure confirmed the report on Instagram.

The group of remaining pro-Palestinian protesters in Union Park is now saying they’re going to march toward the DNC peacefully, followed up by them saying they’re bringing the war home.

Some officers turning on body cameras as they attempt to exit the park from its south end of the park.

Demonstrators trying to move onto the street pic.twitter.com/1zOCZXVLaZ — Lisa Kurian Philip (@LAPhilip) August 23, 2024

The people remaining in the park marched directly into a line of Chicago police officers, prompting a scuffle. Cops wearing helmets came to the front of the line pushing the group back and yelling “move back!”

The last protesters who had sat down on Ashland have left the street and returned to Union Park.

The remaining folks sitting in the street have walked into the park. pic.twitter.com/Ruj6AG7JbJ — Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere (@TylerLaRiviere) August 23, 2024

“With respect to the war in Gaza, President Biden and I are working around the clock because now is the time to get a hostage deal done and a ceasefire deal done,” Harris said.

“Let me be clear: I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself and I will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself,” she said, drawing a “free Palestine” chant from someone in the arena.

Harris also vowed to work to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid Israel’s ongoing assault. She lamented “so many innocent lives lost. Desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety. The scale of suffering is heartbreaking.”

Tension began to build at Union Park late Thursday during the final protest march outside Chicago’s Democratic National Convention, and in the final moments before Vice President Kamala Harris took the stage blocks away at the United Center.

After an earlier parade in the streets near the arena returned to the West Side park, hundreds of Chicago police officers began to block a march against the war in Gaza from continuing. The protesters said they wanted to keep marching until Harris took the stage.

• Full story: Tension in the streets near the United Center as Kamala Harris takes the stage

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris is addressing delegates on the final night of the Democratic National Convention.

You can tune in live via C-SPAN broadcast here:

Attendees at a Democratic National Convention watch party at Soldier Field are tuned in to see Kamala Harris deliver her acceptance speech.

Attendees at a watch party at Soldier Field tune in to see Kamala Harris accept the nomination on Thursday, the last day of the Democratic National Convention.

Alex Degman/WBEZ

Attendees at a Democratic National Convention watch party tune in to see Kamala Harris give her acceptance speech tonight.

Attendees at a watch party at Soldier Field tune into Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech.

Kamala Harris speaks during the final night of the DNC.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Vice President, and Democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris is addressing delegates on the final night of the Democratic National Convention.

Harris began her speech by introducing herself to voters, starting with her mother’s immigration from India to the United States and childhood in the San Francisco Bay.

She then went on to accept her party’s nomination for president.

“On behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on earth, I accept your nomination for president of the United States.”

Kamala Harris’ historic candidacy has been inspiring, not just for them but for the next generation, say Black Chicago women.

Cynthia Jones of Austin said for her daughter, “that representation really matters to see someone in the most powerful position in the world right now, to see a Black woman hold that spot, it’s inspiring.”

As a critical care assistant at a hospital, Monique Johnson of the South Side said she liked how Harris was advocating for the middle and working class.

“I think that it’ll make a difference, what she’s doing and pushing forth the effort because … I have a house so taxes are extremely expensive,” Johnson said, adding, “but hopefully when she gets [elected], she could move forward and say what she’s gonna do to help us out more than what’s going on as of now.”

Harris getting elected to the White House is “a great opportunity to give other little girls the ambition to push forward and maybe in a position that she’s sitting in,” Johnson said.

For Deanna Williams, 34, of the West Loop, she said, “It’ll be nice to see somebody who looks like me in the White House.”

A group of about 40 pro-Palestinian protesters are staging a sit-in on Ashland by Union Park and refusing to leave.

An organizer who says she’s Palestinian is calling on more protesters to join them. Some are coming over to sit down as they chant, “Out of the park, into the streets!”

Some people are using chalk to write messages on the street.

The larger march has disbanded but a group of about 40 are staging a sit in chanting “out of the park, into the streets” at the remaining protesters hanging out in the park. More keep joining them (another 20 or so are outside this area shown here) pic.twitter.com/Sx6Y6ostpx — Violet Miller (@_ViMiller) August 23, 2024

Police have backed off and are monitoring from across the street.

An organizer is calling on protesters to sit in the street, says she's Palestinian and she's trying to save her people pic.twitter.com/5ed7ok8T2E — Lisa Kurian Philip (@LAPhilip) August 23, 2024

Organizers are telling pro-Palestinian marchers to get off the street and into Union Park but a small group is refusing to get off Ashland.

A police spokesperson is telling media they have to stay on the sidewalk.

Meanwhile, the vast majority of protesters have returned to Union Park after police prevented them from marching toward the United Center again.

Organizers are telling marchers to get off the street and into the park but a small group is refusing to get off Ashland pic.twitter.com/cJ8flYiLk7 — Lisa Kurian Philip (@LAPhilip) August 23, 2024

This line of Chicago police officers got a radio call to "hold your ground, hold your ground, relax. Officers, back up." And the cops all backed up to give these demonstrators room. pic.twitter.com/f1jsmHT72U — Nader Issa (@NaderDIssa) August 23, 2024

Kamala Harris has taken the stage at the United Center to deliver her nomination acceptance speech.

It took a few minutes before she could get a word out — the arena erupted as she walked on stage, with chants of “USA,” claps and whistles while holding vertical “Kamala signs.”

“Let’s get to business,” she started.

Kamala Harris speaks to delegates on the final night of the Democratic National Convention on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024.

A partisan United Center crowd delivered its booming adoration to former six-term Illinois Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger for delivering a rousing, never-Trump message tonight.

Kinzinger carried an important symbolic role for Democrats, who positioned him a few speakers ahead of presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

He voted to impeach Trump, served on the House January 6th select committee and is now backing Harris’ candidacy — resume entries Democrats were all too eager to highlight in a bid to draw independents and displaced Republicans away from Trump.

“The Republican Party is no longer conservative. It has switched its allegiance — from the principles that gave it purpose to a man whose only purpose is himself,” Kinzinger said.

“Donald Trump is a weak man pretending to be strong. He is a small man pretending to be big. He’s a faithless man pretending to be righteous. He’s a perpetrator who can’t stop playing the victim,” Kinzinger continued. “He … puts on quite a show. But there’s no real strength there.”

Even though they once were on opposite ends of the political spectrum, members of Illinois’ congressional delegation are praising Kinzinger for speaking his conscience even if it’s meant becoming a pariah in a big swath of the GOP.

“To my mind, the tragedy of Adam Kinzinger is that by voting to defend democracy, he was excommunicated from his own party,” said Democratic U.S. Rep. Sean Casten.

Former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., addresses the Democratic National Convention on Thursday night.

Members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority gather at the South Loop bar Hue Chicago to watch Vice President Kamala Harris take center stage at the Democratic National Convention.

Esther Yoon-Ji Kang/WBEZ

Dozens of ladies wearing pink and green, the colors of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, gathered at the South Loop bar Hue Chicago to watch Vice President Kamala Harris take center stage at the Democratic National Convention.

“I get chill bumps just thinking about her taking a seat at the table in the White House, and it makes me feel a tremendous sense of pride. It’s like, ‘Pinch me, like, is this really real? Is this really happening?’ It makes me feel overwhelmed in a good way,” said Leah Humphrey, of Homewood.

Harris pledged AKA at Howard University. The watch party was sponsored by the Pink and Green Coalition, which is composed of members from the Phi Epsilon Omega chapter.

As a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, AKA does not endorse political candidates, so members said they were speaking for themselves and not the sorority.

Humphrey wore an apple green dress and said she is proud “to have our culture on the American stage. I’m proud to have questions being asked, from non-Black, non-Greek letter organization members, [asking,] ‘What does that mean? Why do you wear that?’”

At Hue, AKAs and their non-Greek friends chatted over drinks, pizza and chicken wings as three large screens displayed convention speeches in the background and music blared over the speakers.

Bakahia Madison, a professor at Oakton Community College, donned a pink fedora and a green blazer over a white dress.

“I’m almost speechless and very emotional because for me, I have walked as a Black woman who has been blocked by so many things. I think for all of us as Black women, this is powerful. It gives us hope,” Madison said.

One AKA from Atlanta even joined the party tonight after seeing it advertised online.

Kim Michelle Drayton, a consultant who graduated from Howard a year before Harris, said she is especially excited.

Drayton added that the whole convention has been “contagious with the joy… and that’s irrespective of sorority or alumni or Howard, or anything like that. [Harris’] joy is contagious.”

Maya Harris, Kamala Harris’ sister, has taken the stage.

She got emotional as she spoke about their mother — who has been a central theme of the past four days.

“I so wish mommy could be here tonight, I can just see her smiling saying how proud she is of Kamala - and then without missing a beat she’d say that’s enough we got work to do.”

The March on the DNC’s police liaison said negotiations with Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling were unsuccessful and “we’re done.”

Protesters are beginning to stream back into Union Park while police block the route that organizers wanted to continue on.

Officers with bicycles are blocking the park’s west and south sides.

Scene at the Ashland green line stop pic.twitter.com/ka51wdThRM — Lisa Kurian Philip (@LAPhilip) August 23, 2024

Former Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a staunch Trump opponent, talks about his “awkward alliance” with Democrats to “defend truth.”

“You never thought you’d see me here, did you?” the Republican Kinzinger asks the crowd. “I’ve learned something about the Democratic Party ... the Democrats are as patriotic as us.”

“They are as eager to defend American values at home and abroad as we conservatives have ever been,” he says.

“The Republican Party is no longer conservative,” and loyal only to Trump, says Kinzinger, who calls Trump “a small man who pretends to be big.”

A warm welcome for former U.S. Ill. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, an outspoken anti-Trump Republican, at the Democratic National Convention. He tells the crowd he never thought he’d be here, and that Democrats are just as patriotic at Republicans, to a massive applause. pic.twitter.com/nOYEWnucCe — Mariah Woelfel (@MariahWoelfel) August 23, 2024

Chicago police are blocking the march from continuing south on Ashland Avenue.

An organizer is negotiating directly with Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling.

Eva Longoria takes the stage to add to the star-studded lineup, as a live feed of watch parties across the country was shown behind her.

“SHE se puede!” the actress said.

Eva Longoria addresses delegates on the final night of the DNC.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer began her remarks by telling the crowd: “In Lansing, they call me ‘Governor,’ but in Detroit, they call me, ‘Big Gretch.’”

Whitmer gave her strong Midwestern endorsement of Kamala Harris as she took the stage Thursday.

“Why wouldn’t we choose a leader who’s tough, tested and a total badass?” Whitmer asked.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks on the final night of the DNC.

During his remarks tonight, Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego, a Marine veteran, brought about two dozen veterans to the stage as the crowd waved their American flags and held up “USA” signs.

Among the group was Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth. The moment was a salute to wounded veterans. Duckworth lost her legs in combat in Iraq.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth appears on stage with other elected veterans tonight at the DNC.

“We’ve been doing this for 10 months. And this is one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen,” an organizer leading the march said on a loud speaker under the L on Lake Street.

The crowd had erupted into screams, drumming and chants of “Gaza!”

“With this type of energy, the US empire is in trouble. With this type of energy, Israel is in trouble,” the speaker said.

The march had arrived back at Ashland Avenue near Union Park, but organizers asked protesters to continue the march instead of heading back into the park.

The bulk of the protest is rallying under the Ashland Green Line stop.

The bulk of the group got to Ashland and is rallying on Lake and Ashland right now. pic.twitter.com/TL0WSh4aR6 — Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere (@TylerLaRiviere) August 23, 2024

Pink performs with her daughter Willow and guitarist Justin Derrico at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday.

Joined onstage by her daughter Willow and guitarist Justin Derrico, pop artist Pink performed an acoustic interpretation of her single, “What About Us” Thursday night.

@chicago.suntimes On Thursday, Harris will formally accept the Democratic Party’s nomination for president as part of what’s already set to be a star-studded evening. Pink was seen doing a sound check in the United Center on Thursday afternoon before the evening’s programming began. The potential for a surprise performance on the last night of the Democratic National Convention has been the subject of lots of speculation in the last few weeks. Rumors have flown around about Taylor Swift for weeks, although she hasn’t shown up and a DNC insider told Deadline she isn’t coming. Beyoncé has been another name tossed around. Video: Angela Massino ♬ original sound - Chicago Sun-Times

Pro-Palestinian protesters are resuming their march back to Union Park after rallying under the L tracks on Lake Street for close to an hour.

We're moving towards Union Park again — Lisa Kurian Philip (@LAPhilip) August 23, 2024

Sen. Mark Kelly has returned to the stage after standing beside his wife, former Rep. Gabby Giffords, a few moments ago.

His home state delegation chanted “Arizona.”

Kelly was a runner-up for Harris’ VP pick.

Shortly after a clip showcased the aftermath of gun violence and mass shootings, individuals affected by gun violence shared the stage together.

Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Ga., led the speakers. Among them was Abbey Clements, a former Sandy Hook teacher, and Kim Rubio, a mother from Uvalde, Texas.

Edgar Vilchez was one of the last speakers of the evening. The Chicagoan said gun violence changed his story.

Edgar Jared Vilchez, who will share his personal story about gun violence on the fourth and final night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, sits in the United Center hours before he is scheduled to speak, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024.

Kamil Krzaczynski/For the Sun-Times

“They say schools are for learning, and I did learn a lot that day. I learned how to run,” he said.

Undefeated, he tells the crowd that we can write a new story if we choose to.

Shortly after, McBath retook the stage, she herself has faced the aftermath of gun violence.

“We will secure safer futures that we all deserve,” said McBath.

A group of uncommitted delegates to the Democratic National Convention enters the United Center tonight.

A group of uncommitted delegates to the Democratic National Convention ended their sit-in outside the United Center on Thursday evening, nearly 24 hours after it began and without securing a speaking slot for a Palestinian American on the DNC stage.

But the group vowed to keep fighting. The delegates walked back into the United Center just after 7:30 p.m. after waiting until 6:30 p.m. to get a call from DNC leaders about their request. The call never came.

“This has been a disastrous decision by the Democratic leadership to deny a bare-minimum ask that we requested weeks ago prior to the convention,” Layla Elabed, co-chair of the Uncommitted National Movement, said. “Nonetheless, uncommitted delegates and ceasefire delegates aren’t here just for a speaker, we are here to continue demanding of our elected officials and our candidates running for office within the Democratic Party to do better.”

The delegates invited Vice President Kamala Harris to visit each state with uncommitted delegates and speak to constituents by Sept. 15.

The sit-in garnered support from Mayor Brandon Johnson and U.S. Reps. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and Delia Ramirez of Illinois. It began amid the prime-time speeches on the third night of the convention.

The group sat down on a sidewalk, passed a microphone and began sharing personal stories and pleas.

The demonstration remained peaceful and quiet. Whether to end it forcibly was a decision in the hands of DNC officials, according to the Secret Service and Chicago police.

The group’s primary demand was for Harris to end military aid to Israel and support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. They saw their additional bid for a Palestinian speaker as a secondary, “extremely reasonable” request — which they made months ago.

Uncommitted delegates said they had been in ongoing talks with the vice president’s team but didn’t get a formal answer until Wednesday night.

It was around 8:30 p.m. that night when a senior DNC official allegedly told the group, “The answer is no.” Members of the group also say they were told Harris would be giving the biggest speech of her life Thursday and the day “cannot be defined by this.”

“This level of suppression, silencing, exclusion in the party of representation, of inclusion, of diversity,” Michigan delegate Abbas Alawieh said. “It’s shocking. It’s a shock for the system. I genuinely can’t believe it, and so that’s why we’re staying out here.”

The pro-Palestinian March on the DNC has been stopped under the L tracks on Lake Street for almost an hour for perhaps the most lively chanting of the week.

The group now says they’re staying in place “because Killer Kamala is about to take the stage at the DNC.”

Vice President Kamala Harris is set to take the stage later tonight.

They’re also chanting, “We’re young, we’re strong, we’ll rally all night long.”

The pro-Palestine March on the DNC has been stopped under the L tracks on Lake Street for almost an hour for perhaps the most lively chanting of the week. The group now says they're staying in place "because Killer Kamala is about to take the stage at the DNC." pic.twitter.com/bBILLQ2UO8 — Nader Issa (@NaderDIssa) August 23, 2024

Some people are trickling back to Union Park and leaving the protest though.

People are slowly trickling back to Union Park, many are getting on the train and leaving. pic.twitter.com/f2E3BvhUJr — Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere (@TylerLaRiviere) August 23, 2024

At one point, a protester lit a firecracker, but it was quickly put out.

Crowd is getting a little antsy, someone just lit a firecracker but another protester put it out pic.twitter.com/ZUFoxZ42PS — Lisa Kurian Philip (@LAPhilip) August 23, 2024

The United Center has gone quiet as people impacted by gun violence take the stage.

Speakers in this group include Rep. Lucy McBath, Abbey Clements of Newton, Connecticut, Kim Rubio of Uvalde, Texas, Melody McFadden of Charleston, South Carolina, and Edgar Vilchez of Chicago.

On June 9, 2022, when he was a junior at Intrinsic School, 4645 W. Belmont Ave in Belmont Cragin, Vilchez witnessed up close the shooting of a classmate in a drive-by near school grounds.

“We can write — and we must write — a new story if we choose to,” Vilchez said tonight.

The last major protest of the DNC has stopped on Lake under the L tracks a couple of blocks from Ashland, where the protest kicked off earlier this afternoon in Union Park.

Protesters are continuing to chant: “Say it loud and say it clear, the DNC ain’t welcome here,” and, “Killer Kamala, we know you you are bombing Gaza too.”

Marching a few blocks away from the United Center, pro-Palestine protesters are chanting "say it loud and say it clear, the DNC ain't welcome here" and "killer Kamala, we know you you are bombing Gaza too" pic.twitter.com/dO4NdzvifD — Nader Issa (@NaderDIssa) August 23, 2024

During his speech tonight at the DNC, actor D.L. Hughley took a shot at former President Donald Trump.

“Kamala’s been Black a lot longer than Trump’s been a Republican,” Hughley said, referring to Trump’s comments at the National Association of Black Journalists conference last month .

Celebrity guest Kerry Washington just finished addressing the crowd at the DNC tonight.

She encouraged the crowd to post a video on their social media accounts, then brought out Kamala Harris’ nieces to instruct everyone in how to correctly pronounce the Democratic nominee’s name.

The Chicks, previously known as the Dixie Chicks, took the stage next, performing the National Anthem.

Chants of “USA” broke out when they concluded.

“Texas Hold ‘Em” by Beyoncé is now playing, and delegates are clearly anticipating a Beyoncé cameo at this point — instantly breaking out into cheers.

Uncommitted Delegates end their sit-in outside the United Center.

Uncommitted delegates ended their sit-in outside the United Center after nearly 24 hours without accomplishing their goal of getting a Palestinian American on the DNC stage, but the group vowed to keep fighting.

The delegates walked back into the United Center just after 7:30 pm after waiting until 6:30 p.m. to get a call from DNC leaders about their request.

Members of a group of uncommitted delegates and supporters enter the United Center after a nearly 24-hour sit-in across from the convention.

“This has been a disastrous decision by the Democratic leadership to deny a bare minimum ask that we requested weeks ago prior to the convention,” said Layla Elabed, co-chair of the Uncommitted National Movement.

“Nonetheless, uncommitted delegates and ceasefire delegates aren’t here just for a speaker, we are to continue demanding of our elected officials and our candidate a running for office within the Democratic Party to do better,” she continued.

Uncommitted Delegates ended their sit-in outside the United Center after nearly 24 hours without accomplishing their goal of getting a Palestinian American on the DNC stage. Updates to come: https://t.co/5B18aDrHNb pic.twitter.com/yQUoav4nuk — Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) August 23, 2024

Uncommitted delegates walk back into the United Center after their nearly 24 hour sit in. #DNC2024 pic.twitter.com/qBa338DT2F — Emmanuel Camarillo (@mannycam) August 23, 2024

The Chicago Bulls’ official drumline Pack Drumline has taken the stage.

Dimple Patel had always been interested in politics, but it wasn’t until Vice President Kamala Harris announced her candidacy for president earlier this summer that she jumped into action by joining virtual calls, organizing groups and attending her first political event.

If Harris is elected president in November, she will become the first woman who is Black and South Asian to serve the country’s highest office.

The possibility of Harris becoming president has filled Patel — who migrated from India to the United States as a young child — with a sense of inspiration and hope that she said she hasn’t felt in a long time.

“The overall enthusiasm that is coming from that shared identity and relatability,” said the suburban West Chicago resident. “It’s hope for future generations that you can do anything you put your mind to, these opportunities are available, and it’s important for us to see that representation.”

MSNBC contributor Katie Phang posted on X, formally known as Twitter, that Beyoncé has arrived at the United Center.

I'm hearing that @Beyonce has arrived at the United Center! https://t.co/KCemYwfk1X — Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) August 23, 2024

Steph Curry is now on screen in a pre-filmed message.

The Golden State Warriors basketball player just got back from Paris playing for Team USA.

Even though he wasn’t actually in the United Center, the crowd lit up.

Team USA coach Steve Kerr was on stage Monday, where he quoted Curry’s infamous “night, night” meme.

Maxwell Frost, the first Gen Z member of congress, talked about climate change during his time in the convention spotlight.

The Harris campaign has clearly been making efforts at capturing his generation during the last four days.

Just to Frost’s left on the convention floor is the dedicated “creator platform,” where TikTokers and Instagram stars have been invited to film content.

“Fighting the climate crisis is patriotic. And unlike Donald Trump, our patriotism is about more than some damn slogan on hat,” Frost said.

A line of police blocked off the Damen Green Line station as protesters marched by.

Yesterday, it was the site of a confrontation during another demonstration when police surrounded a woman on the platform.

An actual passenger was denied service from entering the station. — Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere (@TylerLaRiviere) August 23, 2024

There are hundreds of Chicago police officers waiting for the pro-Palestinian march at the scene of the outer security perimeter fence breach that happened Monday.

Marchers are chanting, “We charge you with genocide!” at Vice President Kamala Harris, who is speaking tonight.

Two blocks away, the United Center is packed and ready to party.

Chicago cops are also blocking the new Green Line Damen station "until the march passes," an officer says. Officers briefly detained two hijabi women up on the train platform yesterday. pic.twitter.com/ngP3mez6h4 — Nader Issa (@NaderDIssa) August 23, 2024

College students from across the country who have been active in their campus protest movements linked up in a corner of Union Park Thursday evening to join the final scheduled protest of the Democratic National Convention.

The students were a small part of the protest, which brought thousands of people to the West Side to call for an end to U.S. aid to Israel because of the ongoing war in Gaza.

“This community is fighting for this goal of bringing about a world where everybody can be safe, in Chicago, in Gaza and all around the world, be free to wake up and have a home and have a family and have food and access to medicine,” said Northwestern University student Dan Murrieta, who helped start a chapter of Jewish Voices for Peace at Northwestern because because he was seeking a community of fellow Jewish students that support Palestinian rights.

Victoria Hinckley said she was one assignment away from graduation when the University of South Florida suspended then expelled her for participating in the pro-Palestinian encampment there.

Hinckley said she came up for the March on the DNC because she wants an immediate arms embargo to Israel.

Victoria Hinckley says she was one assignment away from graduation when the University of South Florida suspended then expelled her for participating in the pro-Palestinian encampment there. She came up for the #MarchOnTheDNC because she wants an immediate arms embargo to Israel pic.twitter.com/LZbOBIAixV — Lisa Kurian Philip (@LAPhilip) August 23, 2024

Protesters with tonight’s pro-Palestinian march have come to a stop outside of Park 578 near the United Center.

The park is where, on Monday, a group of protesters split off and pulled down some of the outer perimeter fencing.

There are a lot of police blocking off Walcott near the United Center.

Marching near Park 578. Police have Wolcott blocked off towards the United Center. pic.twitter.com/HrZ5S5ZGhZ — Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere (@TylerLaRiviere) August 23, 2024

Lisa Madigan, former Attorney General of Illinois, has taken the stage along with other prosecutors — Harris’ former colleagues.

Her appearance was met with applause from the Illinois delegation.

Madigan commends Harris for taking on big banks as California’s AG.

“She stood her ground,” Madigan says. “For as long as I’ve known her, Kamala has always taken principled positions and never wavered.”

With rumors of a surprise performance from a big musical guest swirling and Kamala Harris set to speak, the United Center is... packed.

One Chicago alderperson compared the chances of getting near the Illinois delegation for one reporter:

Security is no longer letting in press into the area, Sun-Times reporters confirm. Some delegates are complaining that they’re not being let in. There’s not an empty seat in sight.

There are dozens of reporters trapped at section 114 and they are not letting them back inside the arena. Ushers said the fire marshal won’t let more people in (even though these reporters have assigned seats). pic.twitter.com/xCitzvuLay — Tina Sfondeles (@TinaSfon) August 22, 2024

In addition to Taylor Swift, Beyoncé has been another surprise guest name tossed around.

TMZ is reporting that she is making an appearance, citing “multiple” unnamed sources.

It’s early morning, and Illinois first lady MK Pritzker is having a cup of tea.

She’s relaxing in the aftermath of the hard-charging primetime speech from her husband, Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday, extolling the presidential candidacy of Kamala Harris as the nation’s first woman president.

“It’s finally our time,” the first lady said. “The Democratic National Convention my husband fought so hard to bring to Chicago has become a huge celebration of women!”

Night after night, women have taken primetime spots at the Democratic National Convention at the United Center.

Read Sneed’s full column here.

Illinois first Lady MK Pritkzer and Gov. JB Pritzker during the Roll Call at the Democratic National Convention.

Hundreds have gathered so far at Soldier Field this evening for a watch party to celebrate the final night of the DNC. Many are decked out in Harris/Walz merch, from the signature camo hats to the pink and green colors of AKA.

Lyndley St. John-Hendershott, a political science and history teacher from Elgin, said that while she was excited at the prospect of celebrity sightings like Taylor Swift or Beyoncé, a different political figure would be a more meaningful appearance.

“I wouldn’t mind Bush showing up at the DNC,” said St. John-Hendershott.

For her, it would mean that there were “old school Republicans that genuinely don’t buy into everything else that’s going on, the corruption of their own party.” (One old-school Republican who will not be showing up is Mitt Romney. The former Republican presidential nominee joked on X today that he is not the night’s surprise guest, adding “So disappointing, I know!”)

Mari Manglaras from East Garfield Park was excited to be experiencing this huge moment in history with a crowd of like minded people.

“I’ve been fighting women’s rights ever since I got out of college,” Manglaras said. “The equality is not there, so I’m really excited to see a woman president.”

Chicago Grammy-winner Common is expected to take the stage around 7 p.m., and Harris’s speech will be broadcast live once she takes the stage across the city at the United Center.

Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton referred to Donald Trump’s appearance at NABJ in Chicago a few weeks ago on the convention stage.

“This man sat right here in Chicago a few weeks ago refusing to apologize for claims that migrants are taking Black jobs. In November, we are going to show him when Blacks do their job.”

Sharpton also emphasized a message of unity

“If we stay together, Black, white, Latina, Indian-American, joy! Joy! joy!” Sharpton said, veering from the teleprompter to elicit loud cheers and whistles from the crowd.

Following his remarks, Sharpton also brought out members of the “Central Park Five.”

The Rev. Al Sharpton looks on as members of the Exonerated Five, also known as the Central Park Five, Korey Wise, from left, Yusef Salaam, Kevin Richardson and Raymond Santana speak during the DNC.

If he had been late to school that day in 2022, Edgar Vilchez might not be here today, getting ready to speak Thursday night at the Democratic National Convention.

On June 9, 2022, when he was a junior at Intrinsic School, 4645 W. Belmont Ave. in Belmont Cragin, Vilchez witnessed up close the shooting of a classmate in a drive-by near school grounds. No one was killed, but the image of a blood-spattered sidewalk is ingrained in Vilchez’s memory.

“If I would’ve been late to school and walked on that same sidewalk, it could’ve been me,” he said.

Now a 19-year-old rising sophomore at Cornell University, he will be speaking Thursday night as part of “A Conversation on Gun Violence,” with U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Ga., and activists Abbey Clements of Newtown, Connecticut; Kim Rubio of Uvalde, Texas; and Melody McFadden of Charleston, South Carolina.

Edgar Jared Vilchez is a guest speaker at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday when he will be sharing his personal story about being a gun violence survivor.

DJ Metro got the crowd moving tonight — and stoked rumors of a possible Taylor Swift appearance — when he dropped Swift’s single, “Shake It Off.”

Richard Berg, a recently retired charter school division coordinator with the Chicago Teacher’s Union, applauded the UAW’s statement in solidarity with in solidarity with the uncommitted delegate group holding a sit-in outside the United Center.

“It’s important that we start to see the [union] presidents stand with us on this,” Berg told the Sun-Times.

He said many in organized labor, but specifically in teachers unions, were frustrated to see the amount of money being sent to Israel — especially when their teachers were crowdfunding to get supplies for their classrooms.

Berg said he was concerned about the party’s refusal to host a Palestinian speaker given how easy it would be to pull off compared to landing a ceasefire deal.

“What we’re asking in this contingent is justice, all they asked for at the convention was to have a speaker to be heard,” Berg said. “Just to have a discussion or debate is a pretty low [ask]. The fact that the Democratic Party couldn’t meet that is troubling to me.”

During his speech tonight, U.S. Rep. Jason Crow criticized Trump’s VP pick JD Vance, saying: “I know a couch commando when I see one.”

U.S. Rep. Jason Crow speaks at the DNC.

Mandel Negan/Getty

With the help of DJ Metro at the turntable, there has been plenty of dancing during the final night of the DNC.

Delegates have been dancing to songs like the Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars track “Uptown Funk,” Black Eyed Peas’ “I Got A Feeling,” Kool & The Gang’s “Celebration” and more.

It’s no Macarena , but it seems to capture the night’s energy pretty clearly.

Protesters are getting ready to march in Union Park.

Police with bikes are lining Washington Boulevard, similarly to Monday’s March on the DNC protest.

Protesters are getting into position to step off and march down Washington. Cops are lining Washington and telling media to get on the sidewalk to cover the march. (Same thing as Monday). pic.twitter.com/sIZC9QjMdU — Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere (@TylerLaRiviere) August 22, 2024

The first of the protesters are crossing Ashland from Union Park now.

The final major protest of the DNC gets underway on Thursday evening near Union Park.

Brett Chase/Sun-Times

Behind the March on the DNC stage in Union Park, a protester confronted John Huddy, a reporter with the conservative outlet Newsmax, calling him “racist” and prompting a heated shouting match between the two men.

Huddy said he had a right to report on the protest like any other reporter.

Behind the March on the DNC stage, a protester confronted John Huddy, a reporter with the highly conservative Newsmax outlet, calling him "racist" and prompting a heated shouting match between the two men. Huddy said he had a right to report on the protest like any other reporter pic.twitter.com/gaKwl5FnED — Nader Issa (@NaderDIssa) August 22, 2024

Another got tackled for holding a Donald Trump sign, and a woman who was with him called an organizer a racial slur afterwards.

Both incidents drew large media scrums.

Some guy got tackled for holding a Trump sign, and here’s the media gaggle to interview him. A woman with the guy that got tackled called a woman organizer the N-Word afterwards. pic.twitter.com/14LJEWC6Me — Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere (@TylerLaRiviere) August 22, 2024

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who ran against Kamala Harris and Joe Biden in 2020, was welcomed to the convention stage with the loudest applause so far tonight.

The warm welcome evoked an emotional response from the senator, who teared up as she looked around the United Center.

Throughout her speech, Warren contrasted the Vice President and former President Donald Trump, emphasizing what Warren called the difference between a criminal and a prosecutor.

Warren also got a few jabs in against Trump and his running mate JD Vance.

“Trust Donald Trump and JD Vance to look out for your family?” Warren asked. “Shoot, I wouldn’t let those guys — I wouldn’t trust them to move my couch.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren takes the stage on the final night of the DNC.

A campaign vehicle for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. showed up at Union Park tonight as protesters gathered for another march on the DNC.

Someone climbed on the roof of the bus and tossed t-shirts into the crowd briefly. Then, the bus rolled away not long after it arrived.

There was no sign of RFK Jr. himself.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s presidential campaign bus appeared briefly at a pro-Palestinian rally in Union Park.

Almost as quickly as it appeared, the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. campaign bus rolled along.

Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., says the American dream that brought so many immigrants to America, including his own, “is out of reach for far too many families.”

Padilla, who filled Kamala Harris’ seat as senator when she became vice president, says if she is elected, Harris will “defend the dream.”

Padilla, the child of Mexican immigrants and California’s first Latino senator, has been a key player in the immigration debate along with Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

“Young students today trying to pursue their dreams, just like I once did, depend on a lot of financial aid and scholarships to be able to go on to college,” Padilla said during a gala in 2021 for the Chicago Latino Caucus in the city council, raising money for scholarships.

Marcia L. Fudge, the former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, spoke on affordable housing in hour one of the final day of the Democratic National Convention.

In 2021, Fudge visited Chicago and toured two affordable housing developments: Casa Queretaro in Pilsen and Concordia Place on the Far South Side.

“There’s nowhere in this country today where a person making minimum wage can even afford a two-bedroom apartment —nowhere,” Fudge said during her visit.

But Fudge’s visit to Concordia Place — privately owned, though it receives funding from HUD — follows months of backlash after reports earlier that year of water leaks, mold and rodent infestations . In March 2021, the Rev. Jesse Jackson called for a rent strike until improvements were made.

At a news conference on that visit, Fudge said improvements were underway, and that the work at Concordia could become a blueprint for affordable housing developments across the nation.

• HUD secretary visits Chicago: ‘The lack of affordable housing in this country is a crisis’

During her speech tonight, Fudge pointed to a decades-old lawsuit against Trump and his company that alleged racial discrimination at Trump housing developments in New York.

The case eventually was settled two years later after Trump tried to countersue the Justice Department for $100 million for making false statements. Those allegations were dismissed by the court.

• NPR: Decades-Old Housing Discrimination Case Plagues Donald Trump

Illinois Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi speaks at the DNC.

U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, one of the most prolific Democratic fundraisers in the nation, gets an early speaking slot on the final night of the DNC, slamming Donald Trump’s economic policies that he says “make us fight among ourselves” and benefit China.

If you blinked, you might’ve missed it. The northwestern suburban congressman spoke for barely a minute during rapid-fire early programming.

Former Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan will speak on the final night of the Democratic National Convention about her years working with Kamala Harris when she served as California’s attorney general.

The rare appearance by Madigan, who in September 2017 announced she wouldn’t seek reelection, comes weeks before her father, former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan is set to go to trial — accused of leading a criminal enterprise for nearly a decade designed to enhance his political power and generate income for his allies and associates. The former speaker and head of the Democratic Party of Illinois left office in 2021 and was indicted in March 2022.

Lisa Madigan shocked many when she announced would not be seeking reelection. At the time, the North Side Democrat offered little explanation for her decision. She joined Kirkland & Ellis as a partner in 2019.

Lisa Madigan will deliver joint remarks with Amy Resner, a former prosecutor and Harris friend; Karrie Delaney, director of federal affairs at the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network; Marc H. Morial, National Urban League president; Nathan Holmes a former student at Corinthian Colleges; and Tristan Snell, former New York State assistant attorney general.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s entrance was met with chants of “Tammy! Tammy!” from the Wisconsin delegation — some of which are still rocking cheesehead hats in Bears country.

Wisconsin delegates don cheesehead hats on Tuesday.

Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, speaks at the DNC tonight.

So far tonight, many of the female speakers who’ve taken the stage at the DNC have worn white. White jackets, white dresses. Many female delegates in the crowd are similarly dressed in white, white cowboy hats and even suffragette sashes.

It continues a tradition of honoring the suffragettes, who fought for women’s right to vote, and for whom white was a signature color, and no doubt an homage to Harris’ nomination.

Delegates wear white on the fourth and last day of the DNC.

Kamil Krzaczynski/Getty

Chicago nightlife mainstay DJ Metro is on the decks for the last night of the Democratic National Convention.

The sounds of DJ Metro are familiar to local club-goers, fans of the Bulls, where he works behind the turntables during home games and street festivals like Pridefest, where he has performed multiple times.

DJ Metro performs during the final day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center tonight.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty

The sun was high and blazing Monday in Union Park, the air electric with drums and chants and squawking bullhorns. Thousands of people milled around, holding signs, backpacks, bottles of water.

Three people were holding a banner 45 feet long featuring the thought of the day: “FREE PALESTINE.”

Meaning ... what?

“To me, it means the freedom in Palestine to live, to have food and water. To not be in an open-air prison. To not be exterminated,” one of the people holding the banner said.

Read Neil Steinberg’s column here.

Thousands of protesters rally in Union Park on Monday, the first day of the Democratic National Convention.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Louise, a member of U.S. Out of the Philippines Contingent who declined to give their last name for fear of retribution, chanted alongside the rest of their group, “No boots on the ground, no bombs in the air, US out of everywhere,” as they arrived at the March on the DNC rally.

Violet Miller/Sun-Times

The group, which is part of the broader coalition putting on the march, are advocating for the U.S. to stop conducting war games in the Philippines, but also standing with the 200-group coalition’s shared support for Palestinians.

“The U.S. has their hands on Palestine and the Philippines, whether it’s genocide or military exercises on our shores,” they said.

The group has been marching with pro-Palestinian protesters since demonstrations started up in October.

Louise said the group has been connected with groups not only across Chicago, but across the nation while marching in solidarity with Palestinian groups. They said it was a chance for groups to swap advice and reaffirm their activism by seeing how their “common enemy” affected others.

“We didn’t have that relationship before the coalition,” they said. “It’s been really good to learn other people’s struggles, each time we do we see the patterns and similarities whether it’s Puerto Rico or Indigenous folks. … We all agree we’re fighting against U.S. imperialism, it’s something we can unite on despite any differences we may have.”

Speakers on stage at the rally also mentioned conflicts and crises in Sudan, Congo and domestically with an uptick in anti-trans legislation, tying all of the struggles with Gaza.

The final night of the Democratic National Convention has begun.

DNC chair Minyon Moore and The U.S. Rep from Texas Veronica Escobar kicked things off.

The last night of the Democratic National Convention will be packed with speakers.

Vice President Kamala Harris will end the night with a primetime address. The evening will also feature speeches by Gabby Giffords, Eva Longoria and more.

The Chicks, formerly known as the Dixie Chicks, are playing the National Anthem. Pink is set to perform before Harris’ speech. Beyoncé isn’t on the official schedule, but there’s widespread speculation she might show up.

The full schedule is below:

Call to Order Minyon Moore Chair of the 2024 Democratic National Convention Committee

Gavel In Veronica Escobar Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Texas

Invocation Everett Kelly National President of the American Federation of Government Employees

Imam Muhammad Abdul-Aleem Masjidullah Mosque, West Oak Lane, PA

Presentation of Colors Illinois State Police Honor Guard

Pledge of Allegiance Luna Maring 6th Grader from Oakland, California

Welcome Remarks The Honorable Veronica Escobar Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Texas

Joint Remarks Becky Pringle President of the National Education Association

Randi Weingarten President of the American Federation of Teachers

Remarks Alex Padilla United States Senator, California

Remarks Marcia L. Fudge Former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

Remarks Ted W. Lieu Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, California

Remarks Tammy Baldwin United States Senator, Wisconsin

Remarks Katherine Clark U.S. House of Representatives Democratic Whip

Remarks Joe Neguse U.S. House of Representatives Assistant Democratic Leader

Remarks The Honorable Leonardo Williams Mayor of Durham, North Carolina

Remarks Raja Krishnamoorthi Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Illinois

Remarks Bob Casey United States Senator, Pennsylvania

Remarks Elizabeth Warren United States Senator, Massachusetts

Remarks: “Project 2025—Chapter Four: Making America Weaker and Less Secure ” Jason Crow Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Colorado

Remarks Elissa Slotkin Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Michigan

Remarks Pat Ryan Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, New York

Remarks Reverend Al Sharpton Civil rights leader

Joint Remarks from representatives of “the Central Park Five” Dr. Yusef Salaam Member of the New York City Council

Korey Wise Activist

Raymond Santana Activist

Kevin Richardson Activist

Joint Remarks Amy Resner Former prosecutor and friend of Vice President Harris

Karrie Delaney Director of Federal Affairs at the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network

Lisa Madigan Former Attorney General of Illinois

Marc H. Morial President of the National Urban League

Nathan Hornes Former student at Corinthian Colleges

Tristan Snell Former New York State Assistant Attorney General

Remarks Maura Healey Governor of Massachusetts

Remarks Courtney Baldwin Youth organizer and human trafficking survivor

Remarks Deb Haaland

Remarks John Russell Content creator

Remarks Maxwell Alejandro Frost Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Florida

Remarks Colin Allred Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Texas

Joint Remarks on “A New American Chapter” Anya Cook, Florida Craig Sicknick, New Jersey Gail DeVore, Colorado Juanny Romero, Nevada Eric, Christian, and Carter Fitts, North Carolina

National Anthem The Chicks

Host Introduction Kerry Washington

Joint Remarks Meena Harris Ella Emhoff Helena Hudlin

Remarks D.L. Hughley

Remarks Chris Swanson Sheriff of Genesee County, Michigan

A Conversation on Gun Violence Lucy McBath Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Georgia Joined by Abbey Clements of Newton, Connecticut, Kim Rubio of Uvalde, Texas, Melody McFadden of Charleston, South Carolina, and Edgar Vilchez of Chicago, Illinois.

Remarks Gabrielle Giffords Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Arizona

Performance Pink

Remarks Mark Kelly United States Senator, Arizona

Remarks Leon E. Panetta Former United States Secretary of Defense

Remarks Ruben Gallego Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Arizona

Remarks Gretchen Whitmer Governor of Michigan

Remarks Eva Longoria American actress and film producer

Remarks Adam Kinzinger Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Illinois

Remarks Maya Harris

Remarks Roy Cooper Governor of North Carolina

Remarks Kamala Harris Vice President of the United States

When Kamala Harris takes to the Democratic National Convention stage tonight, she will be the first sitting vice president to accept her party’s presidential nomination in Chicago in more than half a century.

The last one was Hubert Humphrey in 1968.

Of course, we all know how that one worked out.

But luckily for Harris — and Chicago — the convention is going a bit better this week.

Only time will tell if whatever bump Harris gets from Chicago will be enough to propel her into the presidency. But if she is elected in November, Harris will join the exclusive club of sitting vice presidents who moved right into the Oval Office.

And she will be only the second Democratic V.P. to do so.

Continue reading here .

Vice President Kamala Harris with President Joe Biden after Biden’s address to the Democratic National Convention on Monday at the United Center. Harris is trying to join the four other sitting vice presidents who moved directly into the top job. Biden was vice president, too, but sat out the 2016 presidential race at the end of his two terms as second-in-command to President Barack Obama.

Around the scheduled start time of tonight’s March on the DNC rally, attendance paled in comparison to Monday and Wednesday ‘s pro-Palestinian protests.

Demonstrators were still streaming into Union Park, and the crowd has tended to grow when the groups step off to begin their marches each day.

Out here in Union Park where there’s a few hundreds people milling about. pic.twitter.com/LYMBnwYZ0C — Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere (@TylerLaRiviere) August 22, 2024

The final March on DNC gets underway in Union Park on this evening.

Activists gather in Union Park for the final March on DNC demonstration this evening.

As of 4 p.m., uncommitted delegates had not received any update from party leadership on their request to have a Palestinian speaker on the stage.

It has been almost 20 hours since delegates and their supporters, received a “no” from the party and launched a sit-in outside the United Center.

Uncommitted delegates are giving the party until 6 p.m. to change its mind. They will provide media with an update at 6:30 p.m.

“I’m still holding out hope until 6 o’clock that they will course correct and recognize that Palestinian Americans not only deserve a space in here, we are already here,” said Sabrene Odeh, a Palestinian American and uncommitted delegate from Washington.

“We are already a part of the Democratic Party, and we are here in this nation. Our stories are important. “

Leaders with the Uncommitted National Movement approached the party with the request for a Palestinian speaker months ago and said they were continuously told leadership was “working on it.”

The movement has provided a list of speakers and released their planned speeches.

Asma Mohammad, an uncommitted delegate from Minnesota, noted there is no shortage of possible speakers as the convention is taking place in the home of the country’s largest Palestinian American population.

“It’s a shame that right here in this community, this community in Chicago, where we have the largest population of Palestinian Americans, that there is not going to be one Palestinian American speaker from that stage,” Mohammed said.

“Thirty miles from here, a 6-year-old Palestinian boy was murdered because he was Palestinian,” Mohammed said, referring the killing of Wadea Al-Fayoume .

“The least that our party could do is honor him by showing that Palestinian Americans are welcome on the stage.”

With Democrats divided over U.S. support for Israel’s war in Gaza, Vice President Kamala Harris’s husband reassured some Jewish Democrats in downtown Chicago on Thursday afternoon that Harris was on their side.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff told the group that a Harris administration would be a strong supporter of Israel.

And Emhoff said he would make the fight against antisemitism a big part of his work as first gentleman.

“I’m going to do it with the support of somebody who loves me and everything about me, including the fact that I’m Jewish,” Emhoff said. “I’m going to do it with somebody who knows our community and will continue to support us and Israel and make sure that the world is free of hate.”

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff walks on stage to speak on the second night of the DNC on Tuesday.

“This antisemitism and hate of all kinds, it’s a poison,” he said.

Emhoff spoke for nearly a half-hour to about 150 people gathered by the Jewish Democratic Council of America.

Even during his wife’s presidential campaign, Emhoff told them, he’s focused on safety for Jewish college students returning to campuses roiled by pro-Palestinian protests.

“We are still working to make sure that, when the students come back, they’re going to be safe, they’re going to be able to go to class, they’re not going to be harassed, not going to be harassed inside the classroom,” Emhoff said.

He also promised a response if “protests cross the line into violence, into preventing kids who just want to go to school who have nothing to do with the policies in Israel.”

“These are just kids who want to go to class,” Emhoff said.

Inside the United Center on the fourth and final night of the Democratic National Convention.

It’s night four of the DNC and the energy is palpable in the United Center. The official program is set to start shortly, but the arena is already packed.

The entire week has led up to tonight, when Kamala Harris will give her nomination acceptance speech.

But there’s something else buzzing through the United Center — rumors that Beyoncé could also take tonight’s stage .

Whether Queen B shows or not, the night is sure to be packed with familiar faces. Pink soundchecked earlier this afternoon.

Now: Pink rehearsal for ⁦ @DemConvention ⁩ tonight pic.twitter.com/4BrZ5fQbm3 — Lynn Sweet (@lynnsweet) August 22, 2024

Got away from Navy Pier for a quick moment to capture the floor scene at the #DNCConvention2024 . Walked into the arena and witnessed @Pink ’s mic check. This just made the very late nights orchestrating @Suntimes live blog, social & web coverage so, so worth it. pic.twitter.com/fOKqb2DIcn — Angela Massino (@angelamassino) August 22, 2024

Tammy Abughnaim speaks to press at Park #578 near the United Center on Wednesday.

Tammy Abughnaim, a Chicago ER doctor who has been to Gaza two times in six months as a humanitarian aid worker, said the destruction of infrastructure has gotten worse since she had been there.

Often her team would be alerted of mass casualty events, but ambulances and other means of transport couldn’t get to people who had been bombed.

In other cases, she said they’d seen the “deliberate targeting of children,” including a 14-month-old child who had been shot through the left side of his chest.

“The way Israel has destroyed infrastructure has made life impossible for Palestinians in Gaza,” Abughnaim said. “Starving people can’t recover from traumatic injuries.”

She said she couldn’t do her job because of the destruction she had seen, putting part of the blame on the U.S.

“I’m trained to save lives,” she said. “I couldn’t do my job in Gaza because the U.S. keeps supplying the weapons that were killing my patients, health care workers and the infrastructure that allowed me to care for them.”

Abughnaim previously spoke to the Sun-Times about how hospitals and healthcare agencies in the U.S. weren’t taking their usual place in helping with the humanitarian crises in Gaza. She said medical organizations could have inspired change by speaking up because governments look to them for guidance.

“We could have had some big impacts if American medical systems raised the alarm,” she told the Sun-Times in May. “We really missed the boat on that, and it has compromised our ability to deliver aid effectively.”

The potential for a surprise performance on the last night of the Democratic National Convention on Thursday has been the subject of lots of speculation in the last few weeks.

Rumors have flown around about Taylor Swift for weeks, although she hasn’t shown up and a DNC insider told Deadline she isn’t coming . Beyoncé has been another name tossed around.

On Thursday, White House Political Director Emmy Ruiz added fuel to the fire by posting a bee emoji on X — which some users read as a nod to the Beyhive and a sign that she’ll be at the United Center.

• Beyoncé's publicist says she’s not performing at the DNC after all

Sorry guys my 6 year old took my phone — Emmy Ruiz (@emmyruiz) August 22, 2024

Ahead of the week’s final pro-Palestinian protest Thursday outside the Democratic National Convention, organizers of the March on the DNC say they’ve had an “incredibly successful week” with thousands in the streets to demand the Democrats in power end US aid to Israel.

They also warned that if Vice President Kamala Harris doesn’t change course on funding Israel, she’ll lose in November. Harris is set to accept the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination later tonight at the United Center, just blocks away from the protest at Union Park.

“We need to make demands of those people in that building down the block who are complicit in the genocide and the killing of over 40,000 Palestinians, the injuring of over 100,000 Palestinians and the displacement of over 2 million Palestinians in Gaza,” said Hatem Abudayyeh, a local Palestinian activist and lead organizer of the week’s marches.

Organizers of the March on the DNC, which is hosting the week's final pro-Palestine protest today, say they've had an "incredibly successful week" with thousands in the streets to demand the Democrats in power end US aid to Israel. Kamala Harris is speaking down the street later pic.twitter.com/4lZWzVaOlD — Nader Issa (@NaderDIssa) August 22, 2024

“If the democrats and Kamala Harris don’t do something or say something different, they’re gonna lose,” he said. “And when they lose that election, they better not come and say that the Palestinians are responsible, or that our mass movement is responsible. The only people responsible are the people who are complicit in the murder of 40,000 Palestinians.”

Asked if he supports former President Donald Trump, Abudayyeh scoffed and called Trump a “pig.”

“None of us in our coalition want Donald Trump to win,” Abudayyeh said, noting the groups marched against the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, too.

“For all of us who have common sense, the reason why this is bigger is because the Democrats are in power,” he said.

The Onion relaunched its print paper with a 16-page special edition highlighting the Democratic National Convention.

Peyton Reich/Sun-Times

Chicago-based satirical news outlet The Onion has revived its print publication — after moving completely online in 2013 — with the debut of a 16-page special edition highlighting the Democratic National Convention.

The front page story features the headline: “Tim Walz Unveils New Retro-Futurist Persona After Feeling Boxed In By Folksy Image,” with a photo of the Democratic vice presidential candidate in a silver spacesuit-like outfit with light bulbs.

Another front-page story declares The New York Times “ceased publication” because the “struggling” newspaper simply couldn’t “compete with The Onion’s newly relaunched print edition.”

There’s also a mock interview with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Much of the special issue focuses on the upcoming elections, politics and hot-button issues. The outlet relaunched its print edition as part of a larger plan to diversify revenue streams after its new owners purchased the company in April .

Workers wearing The Onion T-shirts handed out the “Chicago DNC Edition” this week along Michigan Avenue and near hotels and venues where DNC attendees are congregating. More than 50,000 delegates, media and other visitors are expected to attend the convention this week, which wraps up Thursday.

“Our beautiful new website was coming to fruition, we wanted to launch a print edition this fall, and the DNC — filled with the exact folks who deserve to read the most important news of the day — was in our backyard,” The Onion’s Chief Marketing Officer Leila Brillson said in an email. “This perfect storm allowed us to do the DNC in our own unique way, and while we had a captive national audience, too.”

Brillson declined to specify how many issues of The Onion’s DNC paper were printed. “We are printing on demand, and let me tell you ... demand has been tremendous,” she said.

Temporary murals pushing for a world free of nuclear weapons have been set up at 26 locations around the city. Many have gone up near the United Center, as organizers hope to send legislators attending the Democratic National Convention a message about the risk of nuclear war.

The colorful murals feature photos from social media posts and messages sent by people who want to see a nuke-free world. The series, “Nukes Are On the Ballot,” was created by #CranesForOurFuture , a project launched by groups including the Hiroshima Organization for Global Peace and the Nuclear Threat Initiative, among others, in conjunction with Taskforce, an agency that works with nonprofits.

“The leaders that we elect in this upcoming election will make huge decisions about our future with nuclear weapons, our relationship with nuclear weapons, how much we spend on them [and] what their role is in national security,” said Elise Rowan, senior director of communications at Nuclear Threat Initiative.

#CranesForOurFuture has been advocating for a nuclear-free world for four years. It grew out of the idea of people sharing paper cranes to memorialize the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

A temporary mural put up by #CranesForOurFuture to call attention to the risk of nuclear power.

Here’s where the murals can be viewed:

• Green Street and Randolph
• Halsted and Fulton
• Lake and Sangamon
• Lake and Ogden
• Milwaukee and Fullerton
• Milwaukee and Sacramento
• Fairfield and W North Ave
• Armitage and Kedzie
• Fulton St and Ogden
• Logan and Kedzie
• Hubbard and State
• Michigan and Randolph
• Randolph and May
• Randolph and Racine
• Randolph and Willow Ct.
• Milwaukee and Belden
• Milwaukee and Damen
• Milwaukee and Medill
• State and Adams
• Wabash and Ida B Wells
• Wabash and Monroe
• Wabash and Roosevelt
• W North Ave and California
• W North Ave and N Hamlin Ave
• Western and Fullerton
• Western and Potomac

As Speaker Nancy Pelosi exited the CNN Politico Grill after a speaking appearance today, two uncommitted delegates asked why she would not support a Palestine American speaker on the main stage.

The delegates walked behind Pelosi, who was surrounded by security, as she got into her car. Pelsoi did not respond to the delegates’ questions.

“We just asked Speaker Pelosi ... if she believes that the 16,000 Palestinian children who have been unnecessarily murdered in this brutal war in Gaza deserve someone to speak to the experience of Palestinian suffering at the convention of a party that stands for equality and freedom and justice on every issue besides one,” said June Rose, an uncommitted delegate from Rhode Island.

“I’m here as a delegate. I’m not a protester. I’m a member of this party. I’m here for a meaningful seat at the table, and I want to know why our party leadership will stand with the most vulnerable among us — unless it’s Palestinians.”

The saucy fried chicken at Uncle Remus landed on Chicago’s West Side after Charmaine Rickette’s father, Gus Rickette, arrived at Union Station from Mississippi in 1943. He was homeless twice before his iconic chicken shop took off.

Now, the iconic family-run restaurant has a food truck parked at the DNC. It’s a far cry from where they were during the last Democratic National Convention in Chicago — Uncle Remus’ chicken shop burned down during the 1968 riots.

The Chicago staple has been seeing good business since setting up near the media tent. The planning committee reached out to Charmaine Rickette, who is now the CEO of the business, and her niece Sansaray Rickette, 54.

“You have to have a staple West Side business to represent Chicago,” she told the Sun-Times. Nearby, a handful of other food trucks set up shop after an invite from the committee.

Joan Jett performed at the Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport Wednesday night at an event hosted by The Creative Coalition and former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ gun violence prevention organization.

Mike Davis/WBEZ

The New York Times said it would be the biggest party of DNC week: a post-Tim Walz-speech fundraiser and afterparty Wednesday at the Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport, hosted by The Creative Coalition and former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ gun violence prevention organization, along with several other advocacy groups.

Headlined by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, with Drive-By Truckers and Sista Strings filling out the bill, the theater indeed was a draw for celebrities.

Actress Octavia Spencer opened the night with a quick speech. Dean Norris (“Breaking Bad”) was in the crowd taking selfies with fans and Chris Witaske (“The Bear”) got the crowd charged with his remarks before the headliners took the stage. Also spotted: Anthony Anderson (“Blackish”) and Iain Armitage (“Young Sheldon”).

But Joan Jett was the showstopper. Her performance was electric. The audience was clearly in the house for this and much of her set became a duet with the crowd shouting her lyrics of “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” and “Cherry Bomb.”

Illinois anti-abortion activists said it’s “disheartening” that Catholic Cardinal Blase Cupich gave an invocation at the Democratic National Convention on Monday.

In a statement, the group Illinois Right to Life called the Harris-Walz ticket the “most pro-abortion presidential ticket in U.S. history.”

The nonsectarian organization has some Catholic leadership, and executive director Jaclyn Cornell is among them. She said Cupich — who leads the Archdiocese of Chicago — missed an opportunity to tell the DNC audience about the Catholic Church’s teachings on abortion.

“We are morally taught by the Catholic Church that abortion is wrong, and our job in the pro-life movement is to speak the truth and love and compassion,” Cornell said.

Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, gives the invocation on the first day of the 2024 Democratic National Convention at the United Center, Monday, Aug. 19, 2024.

The group’s pushback came as a Planned Parenthood mobile clinic offered free medication abortions and vasectomies near the DNC earlier this week.

“I don’t want to speak on behalf of the cardinal, but I know that the cardinal has caused confusion by participating in the invocation without specifically clarifying the church’s standpoint,” Cornell said.

Cupich’s invocation did not mention abortion. Instead, he called on God’s guidance “in taking up our responsibility to forge this new chapter of our nation’s history. Let it be rooted in the recognition that for us, as for every generation, unity triumphing over division is what advances human dignity and liberty.”

The Archdiocese of Chicago declined to comment on the invocation.

As Kamala Harris accepts the Democratic presidential nomination in my home city of Chicago this week, humanitarian and medical aid workers like me are watching to see what action she and other world leaders plan to take to help at long last alleviate the desperate suffering in Gaza.

As the president and co-founder of MedGlobal, an international humanitarian aid organization headquartered in Chicago, I am particularly concerned about the ongoing logistical nightmare making it extremely difficult for or group and our partners to provide Palestinians with critical aid and care.

The Rafah crossing, long a vital gateway into Gaza for humanitarian aid and medical evacuations, has been closed since early May, when Israeli forces invaded Rafah and seized control of the crossing. This closure has made the situation in Gaza even more difficult and untenable, severing essential supplies and access to medical care for thousands of Palestinians. Despite international calls for humanitarian access, the situation remains unchanged, with devastating consequences for civilians.

The impact of route closures and aid reduction cannot be overstated. Gaza, already besieged and impoverished, is now facing an even grimmer reality.

Read Dr. Zaher Sahloul’s full op-ed here.

Speaking at McCormick Place on the last day of the Democratic National Convention, a tearful Dr. Tanya Haj Hassan expressed her disappointment over Palestinian advocates not being allowed to speak on stage, as well as the U.S. continuing to send billions of dollars to Israel for weapons.

“If you see emotion in this room, it’s grief, it’s injustice,” Haj Hassan said today.

Haj Hassan joined Arab and Jewish speakers who called out Democrats for speaking about freedom while Gaza remains under attack.

Wednesday night, a group of uncommitted delegates staged a sit-in at the United Center, saying convention organizers have refused their request that a Palestinian American be allowed to speak at the DNC. The parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American taken hostage by Hamas, did speak on stage Wednesday.

“Hersh, their son, may he be returned safely soon,” said Aryeh Bernstein with Rabbis for Ceasefire. “I’ve been very fearful for their well being and for all the other hostages’ well being.”

Bernstein said many in his community have called for a prisoner exchange since the Hamas attacks last October and that Israel also has been holding thousands of Palestinian hostages.

He called Democratic leaders “pathetic” and “afraid,” because they know “if any Palestinians spoke, they would be met to thundering applause from the delegates.”

Jewish Illinois State Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) said giving Palestinians a voice is “an undeniable moral clarion call to justice,” adding that their stories are pivotal to change policy and end the conflict, because “you are forced to recognize that we have denied the humanity of Palestinian people for far too long.”

Maurice Mitchell, national director of the Working Families Party, was among several Black leaders and clergy concerned by the party’s decision, saying “they are making a mistake by denying the voices of Palestinian Americans who desperately want to participate.”

Pro-Palestinian groups are outside the Chicago Cultural Center in the Loop, where demonstrators say they are protesting a Democratic fundraiser.

Code Pink, which has interrupted other events this week, is among the groups present. The protesters outside the Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., have been chanting “Free, free Palestine” and “Kamala, you can’t hide. You’re supporting genocide.”

The protest had grown to a few dozen people by early afternoon.

Protesters outside the Chicago Cultural Center on Thursday.

Protesters along Washington Street outside the Chicago Cultural Center on Thursday.

Alex Gallegos, the south suburban school board member who was the only member of Illinois’ Democratic National Convention delegation to withhold support for Kamala Harris’ nomination, says he still strongly supports the vice president over Republican nominee Donald Trump.

“Yes, I am the one ‘present’ vote from Illinois,” Gallegos wrote in an email to the Sun-Times, declining to be interviewed. “Unfortunately I am not able to vocalize the silence of 40K Palestinian souls during an interview.”

He continued: “They want to know why I want the Vice President to lose to Trump. That couldn’t be further from the truth,” Gallegos wrote. “I want Kamala to not only win the election, I want a landslide. The only way I see that happening is if she forces a ceasefire.

“Together we can win and save lives,” Gallegos wrote.

Gallegos was elected last year to the Crete-Monee School District 201-U board, and earlier this year he was elected as a 2nd Congressional District Democratic delegate for President Joe Biden.

He’s among 52 Democratic uncommitted delegates on the national roll call, many of them taking that stance to protest the Biden-Harris administration’s flow of weapons to Israel in its war against Hamas.

Uncommitted delegates are calling on DNC organizers to invite a Palestinian voice to the United Center stage tonight.

Delegate Alex Gallegos, shown during the Illinois presidential delegation’s breakfast on Wednesday, voted “present” instead of casting his ballot to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris, though he said he will vote for her in November.

Former President Donald Trump took aim at Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker in a Fox News interview Thursday, the morning after the governor watched DNC speeches alongside former Trump rival Hillary Clinton.

The comments also came two days after Pritzker delivered a primetime convention address in which he called himself an “actual billionaire” and said, “Trump is rich in only one thing: stupidity.”

Trump, speaking on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” this morning, called Pritzker “an incompetent guy” and said “he was thrown out of the family business.”

“I know the family very well,” Trump said of the Pritzkers.

“They threw him out because they didn’t want him in the business ... He ends up being governor. He has money. He ends up being governor. He’s incompetent,” Trump said.

Trump was referencing a legal battle over Hyatt Hotels, which broke up the Pritzker family empire and distributed more than $1 billion each to 11 cousins, including the governor. Pritzker is worth an estimated $3.5 billion as of August 2024, according to Forbes . He’s the richest sitting politician in the U.S.

Trump has boasted about his wealth, but he has resisted calls for details about his personal finances. The New York Times in 2018 reported that Trump received at least $413 million from his father’s real estate empire, much of it through tax dodges in the 1990s.

Trump Media, which includes Truth Social, has an estimated market value of more than $7 billion, despite it being embroiled in a Securities and Exchange Commission inquiry and an investigation into insider trading.

Forbes estimated Trump’s wealth at $7.5 billion in May 2024.

Pritzker, a close friend to Clinton, was a top fundraiser for both of her presidential campaigns. Asked to respond, Pritzker spokeswoman Christina Amestoy hit back on Trump’s business failures and criminal convictions.

“Interesting take from a 34-time convicted felon who’s driven his businesses into bankruptcy six times,” Amestoy said.

At this morning’s briefing with reporters, Chicago police Supt. Larry Snelling said local and federal authorities are investigating an incident Wednesday in which maggots or another insect were placed at a DNC-related breakfast bar .

“I’m not sure that those were maggots. There was saw dust, probably mealworms. They look the same, but that’s still under investigation,” Snelling said.

Mayor Brandon Johnson says a Palestinian voice should be invited to the DNC stage before the spectacle concludes Thursday night.

After meeting with Puerto Rican delegates in Humboldt Park today, Johnson told reporters that convention organizers “absolutely” should follow the demands of protesters in the city staging a sit-in until a Palestinian voice is given a primetime platform.

“We’re the party that welcomes a wide range of ideology,” said Johnson, who has previously called Israel’s siege of Gaza “genocidal.”

“Our City Council was the first major city in the country to call for an immediate release of the hostages and a permanent ceasefire ,” he said. “You’re talking about thousands of babies, elderly, being brutalized by acts of war.”

“You have to have a voice that can call for peace as well as the releasing of hostages. We can do both,” Johnson said.

The Chicago-native parents of Hersh Polin-Goldberg, who was taken hostage by Hamas last fall in Israel, addressed delegates at the United Center Wednesday night .

Before entering the United Center today, Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., spoke to uncommitted Democratic delegates involved in a sit-in to express her support and gratitude for their protest.

“Thank you for saying it loud and clear: That stage has enough room for all of us, and it is important to be able to hear from the Palestinian community in one of the greatest diasporas in the entire country that we have here in Chicago,” Ramirez said. “Thank you for making sure that people know as they enter here that we can’t have another bomb.”

Ramirez promised to continue sharing their message in every interview she does inside the United Center, and asked the uncommitted delegates to continue their work on the outside.

“I want you to know that you got to keep doubling down, because, unfortunately, you got to make people really feel uncomfortable, really, really uncomfortable until you are seen and you are heard,” Ramirez said. “Because all you want is that we stop killing babies. That’s all you want.”

Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., speaking to uncommitted Democratic delegates involved in a sit-in outside of the United Center.

Sophie Sherry/Sun-Times

Chicago police made no arrests at a protest Wednesday afternoon outside the DNC, according to the city’s top cop.

CPD Supt. Larry Snelling attributed that to the peaceful nature of the demonstrators, as opposed to a much smaller demonstration on Tuesday that resulted in some 60 arrests .

“The individuals who showed up on Tuesday came here strictly to commit crimes, to fight with the police and cause destruction to the city,” Snelling told reporters at a media briefing this morning.

“That wasn’t the focus of the group yesterday. They just wanted to be heard, and we allowed that to happen,” Snelling said.

However, Snelling said there was one “dust-up” during Wednesday’s protest from Union Park to the United Center’s security perimeter.

Snelling said police de-escalated a moment when a protester waved a Palestinian flag over the street from a raised L train platform at Ashland Avenue and Lake Street. He said protest marshals and police removed two people and released them back to the march at street level.

CPD Supt. Larry Snelling speaking at an OEMC briefing during the Democratic National Convention.

David Struett/Sun-Times

As for an ongoing sit-in protest by delegates within the security perimeter of the United Center, Snelling said that was outside of CPD’s jurisdiction and was being handled by the Secret Service.

Derek Meyer, the Secret Service special agent in charge of the DNC, told reporters the potential decision to remove the protesters would be up to DNC officials.

Asma Mohammed took a video this morning of the “uncommitted” sit-in outside the United Center to share with her friend Khaled, who has been living under the bombardment in Gaza since October.

“I want him to know that we love him, that we here in Chicago who are safe, are with him,” said Mohammed, an uncommitted delegate from Minnesota.

“We love you Khaled,” sit-in members shout into the camera.

Mohammed has been outside the United Center with fellow uncommitted delegates since Wednesday night.

She recalled Facetiming with Khaled not long after the war began. She heard bombs in the background, bright lights and then the phone cut out.

“I thought he was dead,” she said. Months went by before she learned he was safe.

Khaled has seen the pro-Palestinian protests online, but also seen people mocking their demands, she said.

“Gaza is watching,” Mohammed said. “They’re watching what’s happening here ... What we’re doing here has a global impact, and I think we forget that sometimes.”

Asma Mohammed takes a video of the @uncommittedmvmt sit-in to share w/ her friend Khaled, who has been living under bombardment in Gaza. He'd seen videos online of people mocking protesters & wanted to lift his spirits. “Gaza is watching...and I think we forget that sometimes.” pic.twitter.com/jXW6uDULLz — Sophie Sherry (@SophiePSherry) August 22, 2024

Six months after Alexis Pleus lost her son to a heroin overdose in 2014, she founded Truth Pharma.

She and her group were in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention this week to raise awareness around drug addiction and overdose deaths and to put politicians on the spot for what she calls inaction.

I talked to Alexis Pleus, founder of advocacy group Truth Pharm, outside the DNC. Her son died of a heroin overdose 10 years ago. pic.twitter.com/0NpxRxDEO8 — Brett Chase (@brettchase) August 22, 2024

State and local governments will receive more than $50 billion over a decade after a government settlement with companies blamed for the opioid crisis.

“We know that the government has the resources that they need to solve this epidemic, including immediate access to treatment,” Pleus said.

Truth Pharma is a group that highlights overdose deaths. Organizers were in Chicago this week for the DNC and to press politicians on a crisis that kills tens of thousands each year. pic.twitter.com/QmE3kitCT6 — Brett Chase (@brettchase) August 22, 2024

Iain Armitage, 16, star of “Young Sheldon,” stops for an interview with Lynn Sweet.

Nyarai Khepra/Sun-Times

In tight elections, every potential voting bloc is sliced and diced by demographics or special interests, and of all the groups, younger voters are seen as some of the hardest to get to the polls.

This is an ongoing issue, not new for 2024.

I’ve been interested in what makes youths want to engage in politics and government and voting for years. So that’s why when I heard Iain Armitage would be in Chicago for the convention — part of a delegation from the nonpartisan Creative Coalition, an organization advocating for issues important to the arts and entertainment community — I knew I wanted to talk to him.

So, I asked: What motivates younger people to get into politics? You’re 16 now, and somehow you found the way to an advocacy organization. What was your path to getting involved in wanting to know about government and politics?

Well, it’s our future, and it’s our way of having our voices heard in the government and politics in general. I think voting is incredibly important. I’m 16 right now, and in two years, I’ll be able to have my voice heard in a much more important and bigger way by being able to vote.

• Sun-Times Q&A with ‘Young Sheldon’ at DNC about why youths should vote

Prominent Democrats gathered Thursday for one last breakfast as part of this week’s national convention, with speakers including Sen. Dick Durbin, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.

Check out photos from the event by Sun-Times photographers below.

After ongoing requests for a Palestinian speaker to be featured on the conventions main stage, about 8:30 p.m. last night, the Uncommitted National Movement was told by a senior DNC official that “the answer is no.”

Abbas Alawieh, an uncommitted Michigan delegate and leader in the movement, said they had no plans to stage a sit-in at the convention, but was “shocked” at the party’s response.

“This level of suppression, silencing, exclusion in the party of representation, of inclusion, of diversity,” Alawieh told the Sun-Times. “It’s shocking. It’s a shock for the system. I genuinely can’t believe it, and so that’s why we’re staying out here.”

It’s been about 12 hours & the @uncommittedmvmt is still here outside the United Center. Delegates staged a sit in after party leadership told them they wouldn’t allow a Palestinian speaker on the DNC main stage. They don’t plan to leave until the party grants their request. pic.twitter.com/GMmYm7Ajg6 — Sophie Sherry (@SophiePSherry) August 22, 2024

Wednesday’s DNC program featured the family of an Israeli American hostage, which movement leaders support, given they also were granted time to share a Palestinian American story — “our party’s platform says that our party values Israeli and Palestinian lives equally,” Alawieh said.

“We heard Hersh’s story. It was deeply moving. We supported the Israeli American family speaking from the stage, of course,” Alawieh said. “And we think ... the majority of voters in our party happen to think that we should also be discussing Palestinian human rights.”

As of 9 a.m., a dozen delegates remained outside the United Center with no plans of leaving until their request is granted.

Sen. Dick Durbin criticized Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance at this morning’s breakfast event for Illinois delegates. He said the senator from Ohio had “single-handedly” blocked the appointment of U.S. attorneys, including that of April Perry for Chicago.

The remarks came after Vance on Tuesday said “it’s almost a joke” that the Democratic National Convention is being held in Chicago, comparing the city to “a Third World country.”

“We do not need to hear JD preaching about law enforcement,” Durbin said. “Look at his record and see that he single-handedly stopped the appointment of the U.S. attorney in the Northern District of Illinois and in Cleveland, Ohio … So when he gives us the explanation of what’s going on in the city and the state, keep that in mind.”

• Donald Trump’s VP pick, Sen. JD Vance, is the reason Chicago has no top federal prosecutor

Sen. Dick Durbin addresses the Illinois delegation during the Democratic National Convention.

For months, the effort to confirm Perry was stalled by Vance, who said he was blocking her confirmation to protest the federal prosecution of Donald Trump. Perry was instead nominated to serve as a federal judge.

“When I challenged him on the floor and said, ‘Why are you doing this?’ He said, ‘To protest your treatment of Donald Trump,” Durbin said at the last Illinois delegation breakfast. “Honest to goodness. He said that.”

Durbin, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he was proud to confirm diverse judges with lifetime appointments, a top priority for President Joe Biden.

“We also filled in those vacancies — 60% of women, many women of color. People are coming to the bench with an attitude of justice that hasn’t been seen in this country for years,” Durbin said. “We’re going to keep that up. That is part, just a small part, of the legacy of Joe Biden. I was happy to be part of it.”

The lone “present” vote from the Illinois delegation was a topic of conversation at the opening of the Illinois delegation’s breakfast on the last day of the Democratic National Convention.

Terrence Healy, a general executive board member of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, said while he supports the right of each delegate to cast their vote, he didn’t understand where it was coming from.

“I fail to understand this vote,” Healy said. “We are in a situation where we have to get Kamala Harris elected. We have to stop Trump.”

The “present” vote was cast by Illinois delegate Alex Gallegos, according to a copy of the ballot reviewed by WBEZ. Democratic National Convention officials only allowed copies of each state’s delegate votes to be viewed in person.

During the ceremonial roll call Tuesday night, it was revealed as Gov. JB Pritzker announced the Illinois delegation’s votes that there was “one vote present” in addition to the 176 votes for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

One more DNC breakfast program for Illinois delegates. Coffee flows freely after three long convention days and nights.

Speakers today include Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada.

The Illinois delegation arrives for breakfast at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in the Loop during the Democratic National Convention.

Mitchell Armentrout/Sun-Times

Oprah Winfrey returned to Chicago last night to support the Democrats, call for the election of Kamala Harris, and sneak in a little jab at GOP vice presidential candidate JD Vance.

While discussing the importance of unity and recognizing what bonds us as neighbors, Winfrey noted that, “When a house is on fire, we don’t ask about the homeowner’s race or religion. We don’t wonder who their partner is or how they voted.

“No, we just try to do the best we can to save them,” she said. “And if the place happens to belong to a childless cat lady — well, we try to get that cat out, too.”

The last comment, a reference to Vance lamenting last month that the country is now ran by “childless cat ladies,” got a roar from the crowd.

Oprah Winfrey: "When a house is on fire, we don't ask about the homeowner's race or religion. We don't wonder who their partner is or how they voted. No, we just try to do the best we can to save them. And if the place happens to belong to a childless cat lady — well, we try to… pic.twitter.com/w1WKz5dcPe — CBS News (@CBSNews) August 22, 2024

Former Mayor Richard M. Daley, who ran the city the last time the Democratic National Convention was in Chicago, made a rare public appearance Wednesday evening in the South Loop, at an event organized by the City Club of Chicago.

The City Club barred reporters from the reception at the Chicago Firehouse Restaurant, but nonmembers of the civic affairs group could get in — for $125 a ticket.

On his way into the event, Daley said he thought the DNC was going “really well,” but he declined further comment.

Daley has stayed out of politics since retiring in 2011, after a record 22-year run on City Hall’s fifth floor.

Attendees at the event included some top aides from his time at City Hall, including John Dunn, as well as 2nd Ward Ald. Brian Hopkins and former charter school executive Juan Rangel.

Daley, 82, was escorted into the event by former adviser Dan Gibbons, who became the City Club’s CEO last year, after the group’s longtime leader, lobbyist Jay Doherty, became ensnared in a Springfield corruption scandal.

Former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley made a rare public appearance at a City Club event at the Chicago Firehouse Restaurant in the South Loop neighborhood Wednesday evening.

Dan Mihalopoulos/WBEZ

Stephen Colbert turned over some of his Wednesday “Late Show” to another personality — a hot dog vendor played by Stephen Colbert.

The host revived a character named Donnie Franks, last seen at Wrigley Field during the Cubs’ run to the World Series in 2016. In aviator sunglasses, a shaggy wig and a goatee, Colbert roamed the field and stands selling Vienna Beef.

In Wednesday’s segment at the United Center (taped Sunday, in full view of various journalists and organizers), Donnie brought not just wieners but also ill-conceived political merch.

He got a primary primer from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, drank Old Style with James Carville and quizzed Gov. JB Pritzker (always game for talk-show tomfoolery) about his encased meat habits.

“Terrorists are gonna blow up the bean unless you have ketchup on a hot dog,” he asked in a thick Chicago accent. “Do you eat ketchup on a hot dog?”

“Mustard only,” the governor replied.

Said Donnie, “That’s the right answer.”

During his third night broadcasting live from the Auditorium Theatre, Colbert also had a multi-segment (and uninterrupted) conversation with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and welcomed Chance the Rapper, who performed as Chicago artist Tyrue “Slang” Jones drew murals behind him.

In character as hot dog vendor Donnie Franks, Stephen Colbert visits the United Center in a segment aired on Wednesday’s episode of “The Late Show.”

It’s the night the entire Democratic National Convention leads up to — Kamala Harris’ acceptance of the Democratic nomination for president.

Harris is slated to give her acceptance speech from the United Center on the fourth, and final, night of the convention.

The night’s main programming is set to begin at 6 p.m. and go until 10 p.m.

Those watching from home can tune into C-SPAN’s broadcast below, or watch from their YouTube channel or website.